Pipe Diagnosis Device Using Pressure Change Frequency

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current pipe diagnosis techniques cannot accurately estimate the future progression of deterioration or lifespan of water pipes, making it difficult for water supply businesses to determine economically efficient replacement priorities for their large pipe networks.

Innovation Solution

A pipe diagnosis apparatus that acquires time-series data on pressure changes in piping equipment, measures the number of pressure changes, and estimates failure risk based on these measurements and pipe strength, allowing for the estimation of future deterioration progression and appropriate replacement times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pipe thickness is measured using vibration propagation speed, then current degree of deterioration can be determined, but future progression of deterioration and lifespan cannot be estimated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipe thickness measurement accuracyVSAvoidfuture deterioration progression information

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by measuring and recording pressure change data over time before actual pipe failure occurs. By continuously monitoring pressure fluctuations and accumulating this data, the system performs preliminary assessment of pipe condition, enabling prediction of future deterioration trends and remaining lifespan before the pipe actually fails.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If a large number of pipes are owned by water supply businesses, then network coverage is extensive, but determining economically efficient replacement priorities becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepipe network coverage areaVSAvoidreplacement priority management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by transforming raw pressure data into meaningful failure risk parameters. By analyzing pressure change frequency, amplitude, and patterns over time, the system generates quantitative risk assessment parameters that enable prioritization of pipe replacement decisions across the entire network based on actual deterioration risk rather than arbitrary criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If pressure change data is collected over time, then future failure risk can be estimated, but data acquisition time and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure risk estimation accuracyVSAvoiddata acquisition and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively monitoring pressure changes only at critical thresholds and intervals rather than continuously recording all pressure variations. This approach captures sufficient information to estimate failure risk while minimizing data acquisition time and processing requirements, achieving adequate reliability without excessive time investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3605050B1Pipe diagnosis device, asset management device and pipe diagnosis method.

Publication Date: 2022.06.29 NEC CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A pipe diagnosis apparatus 10 includes a time-series data acquisition unit 11 that acquires time-series data on pressure of a fluid in piping equipment to be diagnosed, a pressure change measurement unit 12 that measures the number of pressure changes in the fluid from the time-series data on the pressure of the fluid, and a failure risk estimation unit 13 that estimates a failure risk of the piping equipment based on the measured number of pressure changes and a strength of a pipe included in the piping equipment.