Pipe Fault Monitoring Sensor Device Using Piezoelectric Transducers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipe fault monitoring technologies fail to accurately distinguish actual faults from noise caused by surrounding structures, leading to reduced diagnostic accuracy due to signal interference and distortion.
Innovation Solution
A sensor device with piezoelectric transducers disposed at radial equal intervals on the pipe's outer surface, using a placement profile defined by a margin rate, generates ultrasonic guided signals and processes reflected signals to remove noise through correlation analysis and noise parameter derivation in the time-frequency domain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If ultrasonic guided signals are used to diagnose pipe faults, then fault detection capability is improved, but signal interference and distortion from surrounding structures reduce diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the pipe circumference into multiple discrete sensor positions, placing piezoelectric transducers at radially equal intervals. This segmentation allows selective activation of specific transducer groups to isolate and identify noise sources from surrounding structures versus actual pipe faults, thereby resolving the contradiction between detection capability and diagnostic accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by defining a placement profile with margin rate that optimizes transducer positioning based on local noise characteristics. By adjusting the density and distribution of transducers in specific circumferential regions, the system enhances fault detection in high-noise areas while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through localized signal analysis.
2Quantity of substance
If piezoelectric transducers are densely disposed on the pipe surface, then signal coverage is improved, but noise from surrounding structures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic transducer activation where groups of piezoelectric transducers are selectively activated based on the placement profile and margin rate. Rather than continuously operating all transducers, the system dynamically selects which transducers to activate, reducing overall noise exposure while maintaining adequate signal coverage for fault detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining the placement profile and margin rate before actual fault detection. This preliminary configuration optimizes transducer positioning and activation patterns to anticipate and avoid noise-prone regions from surrounding structures, thereby reducing noise exposure before signal acquisition begins.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the accuracy of pipe fault diagnosis by clearly differentiating actual faults from surrounding structures, improving the reliability of fault monitoring and location determination.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of piezoelectric transducers disposed on a circumferential outer surface of a pipe
Implementation Method 2
a reflected signal reflected at an arbitrary point of the pipe
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for monitoring a fault of a pipe according to an aspect of the present invention includes a processor, and a memory configured to store instructions executed by the processor, wherein the processor generates an ultrasonic guided signal in a pipe through piezoelectric transducers disposed on a circumferential outer surface of the pipe which is a target of which a fault is to be monitored, and monitors a fault of the pipe through signal processing for performing correlation analysis and noise removal on a reflected signal generated by the ultrasonic guided signal being reflected at an arbitrary point of the pipe.