Method and device for detecting leaks from pipelines

Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system

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Details

73 405, 73 405R, 340605, G01M 338, G01M 1108

Patent

active

043862691

ABSTRACT:
To detect leaks from pipelines carrying fluids, especially oil, light is transmitted through a fibre-optic held in proximity with the pipeline. The fibre-optic is surrounded by a medium of which the refractive index is altered by the influence of the leaked fluid. In a preferred embodiment the medium is a silicone rubber (4) of which the refractive index is normally lower than that of a quartz fibre optic (3), but of which the index increases to that of the quartz or above when oil (7) soaks into it through a permeable cladding (1) and elastomeric protective layer (2), thus rendering the fibre optic non-internally--reflective so that light (6) is absorbed. Control means linked to a light receiver detect that change and the position of the leak is located to within the length of the optic. In another embodiment the medium is a liquid which is expelled from around the optic by the action of leaked fluid.

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Publ. "Flexible Adiabatic Light Guide of Silicon Rubber" by Fukui et al. Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 1/14/71, pp. 1597-1600.

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