Patent ID: 8346492

Claim:
A system for detecting and locating leaks comprising: a pipeline; a plurality of strain sensors positioned along an external surface of said pipeline, said plurality of strain sensors suitable for measuring a strain of the external surface of said pipeline; a plurality of acoustic pressure sensors positioned at intervals along said pipeline, said plurality of acoustic pressure sensors suitable for sensing an acoustic signal within said pipeline, each of said plurality of strain sensors comprising an array of strain sensors positioned in spaced relation around a circumference of said pipeline, said array of strain sensors comprising: a first strain sensor positioned at a first position on said circumference of said pipeline; a second strain sensor positioned at a second position on said circumference of said pipeline; a third strain sensor positioned at a third position on said circumference of said pipeline; and a fourth strain sensor positioned at a fourth position on said circumference of said pipeline, said first and second positions being spaced by ninety degrees relative to each other, said third and fourth positions being spaced ninety degrees relative to each other, said first and third positions being spaced by one hundred eighty degrees from each other, said second and fourth positions being spaced by one hundred eighty degrees from each other; a plurality of local processors positioned at intervals along said pipeline, each of said plurality of local processors being connected to at least one of said plurality of acoustic pressure sensors and/or at least one of said plurality of strain sensors; and a central processor connected with said plurality of local processors, said central processor suitable for generating an output indicative of a location of a leak in said pipeline.