Search

DE-102025101489-B3 - Acoustic leakage marker, leakage detection system, method and use

DE102025101489B3DE 102025101489 B3DE102025101489 B3DE 102025101489B3DE-102025101489-B3

Abstract

The disclosure relates, inter alia, to an acoustic leakage marker (110) for transmitting a reference signal (200) to a line (400) carrying a medium (500). The acoustic leakage marker (110) comprises a sound transmitter (140) for generating a reference signal; and a sound transfer structure (130) in contact with the sound transmitter, which is configured to be in direct contact with the line (400) when the leakage marker (110) is mounted on the line (400), such that the reference signal (200) is transmitted from the sound transmitter (140) to the line (400) via the sound transfer structure (130). The disclosure further relates to a leakage detection system, a method, and uses of the acoustic leakage marker and the leakage detection system.

Inventors

  • Patrik Rosen

Assignees

  • ROSENXT HOLDING AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250116

Claims (13)

  1. Acoustic leakage marker (110) for transmitting a reference signal (200) to a line (400) carrying a medium (500), wherein the acoustic leakage marker (110) comprises: - a sound transmitter (140) for generating a reference signal; and - a sound transfer structure (130) in contact with the sound transmitter, which is configured to be in direct contact with the line (400) when the leakage marker (110) is mounted on the line (400), so that the reference signal (200) is transmitted from the sound transmitter (140) to the line (400) via the sound transfer structure (130); wherein the sound transfer structure (130) comprises a plunger (134) configured to make direct contact with the line (400) when the leakage marker (110) is mounted on the line; and wherein the sound transfer structure (130) comprises a membrane (142) which is arranged in direct contact with the plunger (134), wherein the sound transmitter (140) is arranged at least partially on the membrane (142).
  2. Acoustic leakage marker (110) according to Claim 1 , - wherein the reference signal (200) corresponds to a leakage noise (300) that arises when the medium (500) carried by the line (400) escapes from the line (400) through a leak (410) in the line (400), and/or - wherein the reference signal (200) corresponds to a predefined leakage noise (300); and/or - wherein the reference signal (200) has a predefined acoustic signature that identifies the reference signal as such.
  3. Acoustic leakage marker (110) according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein a frequency spectrum of the reference signal (200) has at least partially, in particular at least half, preferably mainly, frequencies below a frequency of 24kHz, in particular below a frequency of 20kHz, preferably below a frequency of 15kHz.
  4. Acoustic leakage marker (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the plunger (134) has a bearing surface (136) and wherein the plunger (134) is configured, in a mounted state of the leakage marker (110), to contact the line (400) directly with the bearing surface (136), wherein the bearing surface (136) corresponds in particular to an area of a predefined leak (410) of the line (400).
  5. Acoustic leakage marker (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , - wherein the sound transfer structure (130) comprises a means (138) for exerting a force on the plunger (134); - wherein the means (138) for exerting a force comprises in particular a spring and/or an elastic material, and/or wherein the force, in the mounted state of the leakage marker (110), is exerted in particular in the direction of the conduit (400).
  6. Acoustic leakage marker (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the sound transmitter (140) comprises a piezoelectric element, a loudspeaker, a linear resonance actuator and/or a structure-borne sound transducer.
  7. Acoustic leakage marker (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , wherein the sound transmitter (140) comprises a piezoelectric element in direct contact with the plunger (134), and wherein the sound transmitter (140) further comprises a loudspeaker, a linear resonance actuator and/or a structure-borne sound transducer, which is at least partially arranged on the diaphragm (142).
  8. Leak detection system (100) which includes an acoustic leak marker (110) following one of the Claims 1 until 7 and includes a measuring device (150) for recording the reference signal transmitted from the acoustic leakage marker (110) to the line (400).
  9. Leak detection system (100) according to Claim 8 , wherein the measuring device (150) is arranged to be placed in the line (400).
  10. Method (600) for transmitting a reference signal (200) onto a line (400) carrying a medium (500), wherein the method (600) comprises: - mounting (610) an acoustic leakage marker (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , with a sound transmitter (140) for generating a reference signal (200) and with a sound transfer structure (130) in contact with the sound transmitter, on the line (400), such that the sound transfer structure (130) is in direct contact with the line (400); and - generating (620) the reference signal (200) with the sound transmitter (140), such that the reference signal (200) is transferred from the sound transmitter (140) via the sound transfer structure (130) to the line (400).
  11. Procedure according to Claim 10 , - wherein a material of the conduit (400) contains metal, plastic, asbestos and/or concrete; and/or - wherein the medium (500) contains a gas or a liquid, in particular water.
  12. Use of the acoustic leakage marker (110) according to one of the Claims 1 until 7 , to transmit a reference signal (200) to a line (400).
  13. Use of the leak detection system (100) according to one of the Claims 8 or 9 , to check a function of the measuring device (150) using the reference signal (200) and/or to generate at least one reference value in a measurement of the measuring device (150) using the reference signal (200).

Description

The present invention relates to an acoustic leakage marker. The present invention further relates to a leakage detection system, a method, and a use. Leaks in pipelines, such as water pipes (raw water, process water, drinking water, or wastewater pipes), but also generally in pipelines for transporting liquid or gaseous media, must be avoided to prevent economic and environmental damage. Such pipeline networks, like the water supply network, enable the supply of valuable resources to the population and also the disposal of wastewater. Taking the water supply network as an example, leaks in these networks can be responsible for losses of up to 50% of the supplied volume. Even in very well-developed networks, such as the water supply networks in Germany or the Netherlands, leaks are responsible for losses of approximately 5% of the supplied volume. This not only results in an increased financial burden for consumers but also has a negative impact on the environment. Such leaks can be acoustically detected using inline inspection robots. A sound detector on the inspection robot picks up noises that can be measured within the pipe. Leaks typically produce clearly identifiable leakage noises that can be identified during the measurement. However, existing systems have the disadvantage that their functionality cannot be reliably verified. For example, if the system does not detect any leaks, it is unclear whether the acoustic detector is faulty or whether there are actually no leaks in the pipe section. Furthermore, it is not yet possible to always pinpoint detected leaks exactly, as the position of the inspection robot within the pipe cannot always be reliably determined. The DE 33 22 625 A1 Disclosing a device in which gas is blown through a nozzle into a liquid to simulate leakage noises. The resulting bubble noises are acoustically transmitted via a coupling piece to a component for calibration purposes. The US 5 134 876 A This describes a leak simulator that simulates a leak by releasing a fluid through an opening. The generated sound waves are coupled into the structure under test via an acoustic waveguide. The US 2017/0 199 161 A1 This describes a method for testing an acoustic emission sensor. A piezoelectric tuning fork generates a defined acoustic signal, which is detected by the sensor under test to verify its functionality and coupling. The WO 2014/050 921 A1 This reveals the generation of simulated leak noises through the vibration of a pipeline. Stored digital leak noise data is used to control a vibration unit, which sets the pipeline in motion to reproduce the noise. The DE 18 06 875 C3 This describes a pipe pig that detects leaks inside pipelines using ultrasound. To prevent unreliable measurements at excessively low line pressure, an integrated pressure sensor switches off the measuring device. External ultrasound sources are used for functional testing; the pig detects their signals. Against this background, the present invention aims to improve the detection of leaks in pipes. In a first aspect, the aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention by an acoustic leakage marker according to claim 1 for transmitting a reference signal to a line carrying a medium. As will be explained in more detail below, the (acoustic) reference signal is understood to be, in particular, a signal that simulates a leakage noise in the line. Alternatively or additionally, a reference signal can also be a signal that differs from a leakage noise and, for example, allows for easy identification of the reference signal as such. The reference signal is generated by the sound source. A sound source can be, for example, a piezoelectric element, a loudspeaker, a linear resonant actuator, or a structure-borne sound transducer. The sound source can be connected to a control unit (such as one integrated into the leakage marker or an external control unit) that provides the reference signal. The leakage marker can generate different reference signals. For example, a user can specify different reference signals or select one from a number of preset reference signals. Different reference signals can be stored, each specific to a particular line and/or guided medium. The reference signal generated by the sound transducer can, for example, take into account the transfer function from the transducer to the sound transfer structure and/or the transfer function from the sound transfer structure to the line. The sound transducer is in contact with the sound transfer structure. This allows (acoustic) excitations from the transducer to be transferred to the sound transfer structure. The sound transfer structure can be, in particular, a primarily mechanical structure. Specifically, the sound transfer structure can have a part that is fixed relative to the conductor when mounted and a part that is movable relative to the conductor (such as a plunger), which transmits the generated reference signal to the conductor. The tran