Pure Technolgies' AFO Monitoring Helps Maintain Cutzamala Pipeline
Posted: 2012-11-15
Pure Technologies is currently installing Acoustic Fiber Optic (AFO) monitoring
on the Cutzamala pipeline in Mexico in an ongoing four phase project that
started in 2010.
The initial phase of the project began in 2010 with the installation of about 25
kilometers of AFO, as well as a data acquisition and management system (DAQ)
in the Pericos Tank. The second phase, which is currently being completed by
the Pure Technologies team, will complete the remainder of the middle portion
of the line with 47 kilometers of fiber and a DAQ in the St. Isabel Tank.
AFO technology monitors the condition of prestressed pipe by tracking the
amount of wire breaks in each pipe section. The system allows a utility to
monitor pipeline deterioration and see at-risk pipes before they fail. The four
phase project was organized by priority, with the highest-risk areas of the
system receiving AFO first.
Because of a number of failures before the AFO system was installed, the utility
became more conscious of their pipeline condition, but realized it was
unrealistic and too costly to replace the entire line, leading to the decision to
adopt AFO. Since the completion of phase one, the results have been very
successful; there has been a lot of acoustic activity on the pipelines, which has
allowed the utility to detect and identify distressed pipes and prevent failures.
Phases three and four will be completed in 2013 and 2014. Phase three will
install about 30 kilometers fiber from the Torre TO-5 to the St. Isabel Tank with
a DAQ in each tank. The final phase will install about 48 kilometers of fiber
from the Pericos Tank to the Analco Tunnel, with an additional two DAQ’s.
The Cutzamala pipeline runs from the State of Mexico to the border of Mexico
City and is one of the most important transmission mains in the country,
supplying water to about 5 million people living in Mexico City. There are two
parallel pipelines in the Cutzamala system each about 75 kilometers long.
Click link to learn more.
on the Cutzamala pipeline in Mexico in an ongoing four phase project that
started in 2010.
The initial phase of the project began in 2010 with the installation of about 25
kilometers of AFO, as well as a data acquisition and management system (DAQ)
in the Pericos Tank. The second phase, which is currently being completed by
the Pure Technologies team, will complete the remainder of the middle portion
of the line with 47 kilometers of fiber and a DAQ in the St. Isabel Tank.
AFO technology monitors the condition of prestressed pipe by tracking the
amount of wire breaks in each pipe section. The system allows a utility to
monitor pipeline deterioration and see at-risk pipes before they fail. The four
phase project was organized by priority, with the highest-risk areas of the
system receiving AFO first.
Because of a number of failures before the AFO system was installed, the utility
became more conscious of their pipeline condition, but realized it was
unrealistic and too costly to replace the entire line, leading to the decision to
adopt AFO. Since the completion of phase one, the results have been very
successful; there has been a lot of acoustic activity on the pipelines, which has
allowed the utility to detect and identify distressed pipes and prevent failures.
Phases three and four will be completed in 2013 and 2014. Phase three will
install about 30 kilometers fiber from the Torre TO-5 to the St. Isabel Tank with
a DAQ in each tank. The final phase will install about 48 kilometers of fiber
from the Pericos Tank to the Analco Tunnel, with an additional two DAQ’s.
The Cutzamala pipeline runs from the State of Mexico to the border of Mexico
City and is one of the most important transmission mains in the country,
supplying water to about 5 million people living in Mexico City. There are two
parallel pipelines in the Cutzamala system each about 75 kilometers long.
Click link to learn more.
