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RF-solution for transfering data inside metal pipe

Vyacheslav Prokopiy
Expert 1305 points

Hello all !

TI has a lot of devices for transmietting data without wires, over the air.

This question is not about certain device or technical problem. I just would like to know, is it possible to use one of TI's radio devices to communicate inside a metal pipe?

For exapmle, inside the water or gas pipeline. Which frequency range is more suitable for this purpose? What is maximum acheavable distance?

Does TI have some recommendations on this? Or, maybe, someone from community has an experience in this area?

  • 0
    Guru 735705 points
    The RF module would be all in the metal pipe or you just put transmitter inside and receiver outside. If both transmitter and receiver are in metal pipe, are they in line of sight?
  • 0 in reply to YiKai Chen
    Expert 1305 points

    Hello, YiKai!

    Let's assume, that both devices (transmietter and receiver) are located inside the pipe.
    Furthermore, there can be several nodes(transceivers) along the whole pipeline (let's suppose, about 10 devices).
    There are two possible cases of pipeline form:
    Case 1: Straight channel, as you said - in line of sight and distance ~3 km.
    Case 2: Pipe can change a direction with angle up to 90 degrees but with big radius.

    And is it possible at all to transmiet data from node, that resides inside the pipe, to node, which is outside the pipe?

  • 0 in reply to Vyacheslav Prokopiy
    Guru 735705 points
    1.If all the nodes are inside pipe and in LOS, it probably is OK. To transmit up to 3 KM, you should choose subG solution.
    2.If pipe can change direction or you wan to transmit data out to a node outside the pipe, I think there is no good solution. You might have to test to know the result.
  • 0 in reply to YiKai Chen
    Expert 1305 points
    YiKai, and what about pipe's diameter? Are there some constraints in pipe diameter in Sub-1Ghz range?
    I remember, that spreading of electromagnetic wave inside the metal pipe depends on diameter of pipe.
  • 0 in reply to Vyacheslav Prokopiy
    TI__Guru**** 317180 points

    Inside of a metal pipe you will get multipath transmission. I would guess that you could get points alone the pipe with positive and negative interference, eq you will get very good results some places and nothing somewhere else. Also if you have a bend I would assume that the wavelength and diameter of the pipe matter. Also the shape of the bend will matter. This is not a typical usercase so we don't have experience with this, the best would be to do some tests @868 MHz and see the result. 

  • 0 in reply to Vyacheslav Prokopiy
    Guru 735705 points
    Yes, I agree with TER. You can only do some field test to know it.
  • 0 in reply to YiKai Chen
    Expert 1835 points
    It's a fascinating design exercise. Do you know the pipe's diameter? It is possible to treat it as a waveguide at certain frequencies and use a sense antenna to bridge the transition from inside to outside the pipe. The ARRL microwave experimenter's manual will give you insight to the mechanics and math of waveguides. What will the pipe be carrying?