The focus was to show that such a system is theoretically feasible, even though much research is still required into individual components of the system.
This paper primarily concentrates on initial results of a proof-of-concept prototype smart pipe system which was built and buried in the summer of 2009 on the University of Birmingham, UK campus. The MEMS sensors need not be sophisticated, but due to their large numbers, will allow for the comprehensive monitoring of the whole network. With suitable electronic communication systems, either built into a pipe-traversing pig (pipeline inspection gauge-pig) or located at regular intervals along a pipe, which can detect the sensor signals, and with appropriate transmission and interpretation, such so-called smart pipes become possible. It has therefore been identified as an ideal technology for the wide, distributed pipe network system, where large numbers of low-cost sensors will be required, as one of the key advantages of MEMS technology is that large numbers of sensors can be manufactured at very low cost. Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) technology has shown its potential in many different applications: aerospace, automotive, home entertainment and biomedical, to deliver small, cost-effective sensors. As current technology is not available for a distributed monitoring network, alternatives have to be investigated. If the network could be monitored more extensively, for example via a large number of miniaturised sensors incorporated into the pipe material, within coatings on pipelines or within the ground around pipes, it would allow a more proactive, and ultimately cost-effective, management regime of the whole network. Due to the costs of these measuring stations, it is not possible to monitor the whole network and hence it can sometimes be difficult to identify local problems with the system, such as corrosion failures or leaks, until they are either reported by the customer or are visible at surface level. It should be noted that utilities and their maintenance should not be treated in isolation since utilities are generally laid beneath roads, and hence maintenance and emergency repair operations often seriously disrupt road users.Īnother issue with existing systems is that currently, water distribution systems are only monitored at discrete points in the distribution network. In addition, they are expensive to introduce and may cause water quality problems.
Existing systems broadly achieve the above aims, but they lack accuracy due to the limitations of the technology involved. In an ideal situation, a monitoring system, introduced into the utility/pipeline infrastructure, would warn of impending failure. Consequently, routine monitoring of the performance of the infrastructure (both physically and operationally) is essential to the planning of its maintenance. Its maintenance, both in terms of attention to its physical components and to its operational state, is of the utmost importance to minimise disruption to the infrastructure and the population in its locality. The buried utility pipeline infrastructure is the primary asset of a network owner and operator. The key challenges identified were the powering of these sensors and the communication of the data to the operator using a range of different methods. Results from the sensors were obtained during and after burial indicating that off-the-shelf sensors can be used in a smart pipes system although further refinements are necessary in order to miniaturise these sensors. The challenges of such a burial are presented together with the limitations of the sensor system.
#INTELLIGENT PIPENET TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION TRIAL#
This paper focuses on a novel trial where a short section of a prototype smart pipe was buried using mainly off-the-shelf sensors and communication elements. In order to have a complete picture of the utility network, cheaper sensors need to be investigated which would allow large numbers of small sensors to be incorporated into (or near to) the pipe leading to so-called smart pipes. Traditionally, expensive and very localised sensors are used to provide irregular measurements of these properties. Any information of these properties aids the utility owners in their planning and management of their maintenance regime. As they are not visible and easily accessible, the monitoring of their integrity as well as the quality of their contents is a challenge. Several millions of kilometres of pipes and cables are buried beneath our streets in the UK.
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