Patent ID: 9243971
Filing Date: 2016-01-26
CPC Classification: F17D,G01F,G01M

Claim Text:
1. A method of monitoring a fluid in a fluid carrying conduit comprising the steps of: monitoring a fluid characteristic at a first point and second point along the conduit substantially continuously; determining first and second quantities, being related to a differential with respect to time of the value of the fluid characteristic at the first and second points, respectively; combining the first and second quantities to produce a two dimensional intensity function of time and a position variable; analysing a magnitude of the two dimensional intensity function of time to derive information relating to the fluid; determining whether or not the magnitude of the two dimensional intensity function of time satisfies a pre-determined criteria, wherein if the two dimensional intensity function of time does satisfy the pre-determined criteria, a leak is determined to have occurred; and wherein, if a leak is found, the method further comprises the step of determining the location of a leak in the fluid carrying conduit by identifying the position of the leak by mapping the location of the region of the intensity function which satisfies the pre-determined criteria onto a corresponding position on the conduit.