Project closure report - Acoustic Communication in Gas Mains - Phase 1 & 2 - NIA_SGN0040

Abstract:

<p>The Acoustic Communication in Gas Pipes project is concerned with developing an alternative communication method to interconnect pressure monitoring and control equipment.</p> <p>This project aimed to potentially replace the rented telephone landlines and mobile communication links presently used, and also provide improved network pressure control to minimise gas leakage.</p> <p>Currently many of the low pressure gas networks employ data logger and electronic control equipment to monitor pressures and profile control governors. These collect operational data for management and planning purposes and minimise network pressures to reduce gas leakage.</p> <p>The technique to be investigated is the use of acoustic communications within low pressure gas networks. The acoustic technique, through laboratory simulation and field trials was anticipated to provide gain an understanding of typical pipe network acoustic characteristics under operational gas conditions to ascertain a suitable transmission signature signal for data transfer and to discover the potential restrictions of the technique.</p> <p>Having discussed potential new solutions with existing suppliers, it was deemed more valuable to send invitations to partner to Universities that have relevant experience in this area of work. Various Universities were contacted throughout Great Britain (GB), from which SGN received one positive response from the University of Southampton's Institute of Sound and Vibration Research. Their extensive experience in the analysis of sound and vibration propagation in pipe work systems demonstrated their pertinence in working on this project. Additionally, the University of Southampton extensive specialist research facilities for laboratory testing provided reliable and available testing conditions. SGN would provide access to typical low pressure networks to gather acoustic data for analysis and information to allow network models to be built and assessed for acoustic propagation.</p> <p>To achieve the project aims, the University of Southampton proposed to develop suitable measurement, testing and recoding techniques capable of gathering acoustic data based on their understanding of SGN's pipe networks' acoustic characteristics. Laboratory simulation to test this new method would then be carried out, followed by an acoustic study on a typical gas main network. The equipment and techniques used to receive suitable acoustic signals would also be assessed. The received signal transmission would then be analysed to establish the characteristics of a potential suitable signature acoustic signal for transmission.</p> <p>Following the testing of the electroacoustic instrumentation on metallic and plastic pipes, the equipment demonstrated that sound can be transmitted and measured along distances of up to 750 metres. A suitable sound signal level was also established to be typically below 1800 Hz in a 100mm plastic pipe diameter. Acoustic communication is possible using the electroacoustic instrumentation. However, sound reflected along metallic pipes and against certain pipe layouts, makes it difficult to communicate information accurately. Therefore, since pipes cannot be adjusted for acoustic communication purposes, the next steps would be to develop more suitable frequency modulated signals.</p> This report is divided into the following sections: <ol> <li>Introduction</li> <li>Investment options</li> <li>Project delivery</li> <li>Project team structure</li> <li>Site preparation works</li> <li>Results of testing</li> <li>Conclusion</li> <li>Recommendations</li> <li>University of Southampton Executive Summary</li> <li>Introduction</li> <li>Scope of document</li> <li>Project objectives</li> <li>Summary of test conducted</li> <li>Results</li> <li>Prediction model of sound transmission</li> <li>Conclusions</li> <li>Recommendations</li> <li>References</li> </ol>

Author(s):

SGN