Pipeline Inspection Pig With Flexible Electromechanical Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pipeline inspection and cleaning technologies face challenges in accurately detecting structural irregularities due to limited spatial resolution and the risk of damage to inspection pigs, which are complex and costly, necessitating the use of inexpensive pigs with gouging plates that may not correctly interpret obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A pig with a flexible plastic element equipped with an electromechanical converter that extends along its length for shape detection and/or energy generation, utilizing the converter's change in shape to detect or effect changes in the pipeline geometry, allowing for improved spatial resolution and obstacle detection without complex lever mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If inspection pigs with complex mechanical designs are used to measure internal geometry, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with an optical measurement system. A camera is mounted on the pig to capture images of the pipeline interior, and these images are later analyzed to determine internal geometry. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical arms and sensors while achieving accurate measurements through photogrammetry and image processing techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a visual copy of the pipeline interior by capturing images with a camera. Instead of directly measuring physical dimensions with mechanical devices, the system creates photographic copies of the pipeline interior that can be analyzed computationally. This copying approach simplifies the physical device while maintaining measurement capability through digital analysis.
2Reliability
If gouging plates are used to protect inspection pigs, then reliability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lack of spatial resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function of the pig body with the measurement function by mounting the camera directly on the pig housing. The pig body serves dual purposes: protecting the internal components and providing a platform for the optical measurement system. This eliminates the need for separate gouging plates while maintaining both protection and measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical gouging plate system with an optical measurement system. Instead of using mechanical plates that contact the pipeline interior to detect irregularities, the system uses a camera to visually detect and record structural irregularities, achieving both protection and high-resolution spatial information.
3Ease of manufacture
If inexpensive pigs with gouging plates are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but reliability decreases due to inability to correctly interpret obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gouging plate interpretation system with an optical imaging and computational analysis system. The camera captures detailed images of obstacles, and software algorithms analyze these images to correctly interpret obstacle types, positions, and characteristics. This approach maintains low manufacturing costs while significantly improving reliability of obstacle detection and interpretation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates detailed visual copies of obstacles through high-resolution imaging. Instead of relying on mechanical contact that may misinterpret obstacles, the system creates accurate visual representations that can be analyzed to correctly identify and characterize obstacles, improving reliability while keeping the pig itself simple and inexpensive.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective and flexible pipeline inspection method that can accurately detect structural irregularities, withstand pipeline geometry changes, and adapt to different pipeline configurations, enhancing the safety and efficiency of pipeline inspections.
Implementation Method 1
the plastic element, viewed from the pig element, has at least one electromechanical converter extending in the longitudinal direction of the plastic element for detecting and/or effecting a change in shape of the plastic element
Data Source
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AI summary
A pig for inspecting and/or cleaning pipelines which transport, in particular, oil, gas or water, wherein the pig has at least one flexible plastics element (26), which is retained on a pig element designed preferably in the form of a pig body (13), wherein the plastics element (26), as seen from the pig element, has at least one electromechanical transducer, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the plastics element and is intended for detecting and/or effecting a change in shape of the plastics element (26). The invention also relates to a pig disc, in the elastic side region of which at least one electromechanical transducer is present as a sensor for detecting changes in the free inner cross section of a pipeline.