Optimization for remote monitoring terrestrial petroleum pipeline cathode protection system using graded network

Abstract

Method of cathode protection is employed to slow down the corrosion of terrestrial pipe. This paper aims to develop a system to monitor the terrestrial pipe cathode protection equipment to wholly track the operation status of buried pipe timely. The monitoring system integrates technology of wireless sensor networks, GPRS network and Internet not only to collect the cathode potential data in time and realize remote data transmission but also to regulate the guard mode of cathode protection on demand. Optimization mechanisms are adopted to effectively lower the energy assumption and to ensure data transmission reliability, from architecture design, selection of power saving hardware components, implementation of reliable network traffic mechanism including hierarchical network topology with least-complexity cluster head shift strategy, TDMA protocol with auto-adaptive resending scheme, work-on-duty with radio-awaken mechanism and so on. Trial running of the system has published good results with 96% or higher success ratio of data transmission, low power saving and power balance. In all, this system can meet the requirements of timely detecting physical malfunction of terrestrial pipeline and controlling field monitoring system on demand.