Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Network for Real-time Monitoring of Pipeline Interactive Anomalies

Overview

Main Objective

The main objectives in this project include: (1) the development, calibration, and validation of an innovative distributed fiber optic sensor network for detection, localization, characterization, and quantification of cracking, deformation (dent), material degradation (corrosion), and excavation along the pipelines, and their interactions in between these different anomalies; (2) the development and validation of a data processing programs for real-time sensor data analysis to identify interactions between different anomalies for effective and efficient pipeline management; and (3) the training offered to graduate and undergraduate students through the research on pipeline anomaly detection to prepare them for future careers in related industry.

Public Abstract

A transportation pipeline network of about 2.6 million miles delivers the energy products that the American public needs, in order to keep its homes and businesses running. While various measures have kept the pipeline failure rate low, incidents continue occurring and causing fatality, injures, and significant revenue loss. Recent investigations conducted by National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have shown that interactive threats and anomalies play important roles in pipeline incidents. There is an urgent need to develop effective nondestructive evaluation technologies to detect and analyze interactive anomalies. The current practice of pipeline anomaly detection mainly relies on the use of smart pigs that are only performed as scheduled or needed, which may have delayed actions to anomalies, operation downtime, and significant revenue loss. An alternative to monitor a pipeline in real time is to use field sensors installed on pipelines, such as ultrasonic or point fiber optic sensors. However, the use of point sensors requires a large quantity of sensors for a long distance, resulting in high cost and intensive labor efforts for long-term condition monitoring. The overarching goal of this research is to pave a path which may transform the current pipeline anomaly detection technologies to a distributed fiber optic sensor network for real-time detection, localization, and quantification of interactive anomalies of pipelines, thus improving the pipeline safety and management. The distributed fiber optic sensor network will seamlessly integrate multifunctional distributed and point fiber optic sensors and provide fully distributed measurement along the pipeline. A continuous optical fiber will serve as both the transmission line and distributed sensor based on light scatterings in the optical fiber. Along the pipeline, the location of an event is determined by measuring the time of flight of the backscattered light signal. Point fiber optic sensors (e.g. fiber Bragg grating sensors) will be incorporated at critical locations for improving the measurement accuracy and reliability of the distributed fiber optic sensor network. Both the distributed and point fiber optic sensors will measure multiple pipeline anomalies and their interactions that are associated with the integrity of the pipeline. To exemplify the functionality of the proposed sensor network, this project will demonstrate the sensor network in monitoring the spatial distribution of cracks, dents, corrosion, and excavation along the pipeline. The sensor network will be characterized under individual anomaly type and tested under interactive anomalies. Data processing programs will be developed for real-time sensor data analysis. Different co-existing anomalies will be distinguished by analyzing the sensor data using the data processing programs. Anticipated outcomes will improve not only the safety but also the management of pipelines through providing real-time information of the locations, types, and severity of the anomalies.

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