METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF GAS FLOW THROUGH THE VALVE ASSEMBLY OF PIPELINE FITTINGS

Background. Prolonged operation of gas pipeline shut-off valves leads to gradual wear of the sealing elements of ball valves and, as a result, to their leakiness. This is the cause of the vast majority of accidents at main gas pipelines and compressor stations. A technique has been developed to determine the presence of a gas leak and measure the amount of its flow in a crane when it loses its tightness by recording and analyzing the acoustic signal produced by gas flowing through a faulty crane assembly. Detection of a leak at an early stage allows timely preventive measures to eliminate it, keep the crane in working condition and avoid the consequences associated with emergency recovery operations. Materials and methods. To detect gas leaks in the shut-off valves of main gas pipelines by recording and analyzing the acoustic signal, the acoustic emission control method is used. The composition of the hardware of the device (flow sensor) designed to detect and determine the degree of gas leakage through the valve assembly of the pipeline fittings is analyzed. Results and conclusions. A description of the design variant and a block diagram of the gas flow sensor are proposed. The description of the operation of the device's software module and the flowchart of the algorithm are given. The conclusion is made about the necessity and relevance of using the proposed method for detecting gas leaks in shut-off valves of main gas pipelines.