Patent AU-2006337560-B2 (AU)
Title: Method for permanently monitoring pressurized pipelines and line systems which carry fluid media
Inventor: HEINL ALEXANDER
IPC: G01M3/28
Filed: 2006-01-23
Granted: 2012-09-13
Abstract: The invention relates to a method for permanently monitoring pressurized pipelines and line systems, including connected loads, which carry fluid media, wherein pressure measurements are carried out in different modes downstream of the transfer point between the supply device and the load connection in order to determine consumption values over predeterminable periods of time and to infer the system state, said method having the following steps: an electronically controllable shut-off valve is arranged downstream of the transfer point and a pressure sensor is arranged downstream of the valve in the direction of flow; all of the removal locations are closed and pressure is built up in the system; the shut-off valve is closed and an outlet pressure drop, which may be present, is determined over a first period of time and the initial and final pressure values are stored; the valve is opened and the consumption of water with the longest equal flow rate is set and stored as the end of commissioning; a transition is made to the drawing-off mode by opening the valve over a second period of time; a changeover to the leak searching mode is made after the second period of time has elapsed by briefly closing the valve, the outlet pressure is determined and this value is stored, the pressure drop during the valve-closing procedure is calculated and is compared with a predefined fixed value; the pressure drop value from the preceding comparison step is checked and a large leak or large instantaneous consumption is determined and the result is stored in the error buffer; the pressure drop measurement is repeated within a short period of time and the pressure drop value now obtained is compared with the value in the error buffer and the error buffer is erased when no changes can be determined; a transition is made to the first stage of an extended leak searching mode, with the valve still closed, by comparing the pressure drop in this step with a predefined fixed value in order to determine a smaller leak which may be present, the error value is stored in a memory, the pressure drop measurement is repeated within a short period of time and the pressure drop now obtained is compared with the error value and the error value is erased if it is not possible to determine that the pressure drop value has been exceeded or an alarm is activated if it is determined that the value has been exceeded and a subsequent transition is made to the drawing-off mode; after the error memory has been erased, the second stage of the extended leak searching mode is begun with the valve still closed, the instantaneous outlet pressure is determined, this value is stored, a current pressure value is determined and the pressure drop which may be present is determined over a third period of time, this period of time being longer than the first or second period of time, and is compared with the outlet pressure drop determined in order to infer a minor leak if the pressure drop is exceeded; the error value is stored and reported and a transition is made to the drawing-off mode or, if the pressure drop is not exceeded, a transition is made to the rest mode with the valve closed, wherein the rest mode is ended when a current pressure measurement reveals a pressure drop or a period of time which is longer than the third period of time has elapsed, with a subsequent transition then being made to the drawing-off mode.