Importance

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Abstract

Leaks are detected by wrapping a vessel such as a pipe 10 or tank 28 in a skin 14 14A 30 which traps escaping fluid 12 at least long enough to direct it, in the vicinity of the leak, towards a sensor line 16 employing fibre optics to detect the fact of a leak and to detect how far along the a fibre optic line the leak exists. The skin 14 14A 30 can be longitudinally applied or wrapped onto the vessel 10 28. Bindings 24 can be used to attach the skin 14 14A 30 to the outside of the vessel 10 28. Sensor line 16 couplings 26 can be employed between lengths of pipe 10 to create monitored sections of pipe 10 which can be joined togther. Sensor lines 16 can be applied to the outer surface of a vessel 10 28 and covered with the skin 14 14A 30. Sensor lines 16 can be stuck or woven into the skin 14 14A 30. The skin 14 14A 30 incorporates elastic ridges 18 18A 18C which face the vessel and direct escaping fluid towards the sensor line 16. A control system 46 40 48 44 is provided to shut down a tank 28 or pipeline 36 38, at least in the vicinity of a leak, if a leak is detected, and can include shutting down pumps 40, closing valves, and voiding items 10 28 subject to the leak.

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First Claim