Flexible pipe system

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible pipe system comprising an unbonded flexible pipe having a center axis and a sensor system at least partly integrated in the unbonded flexible pipe. The unbonded flexible pipe has a length and a longitudinal direction along the length and comprises an inner sealing sheath and at least a first sensor containing armoring layer. The first sensor containing armoring layer comprises a plurality of elongated armoring elements arranged around the internal sealing sheath. The sensor system comprises: a plurality of optical fiber sensor units, at least one light pump for the optical fiber sensor units, a data collecting unit, and a computing unit. The optical fiber sensor units are optically connected to the data collecting unit, and the data collecting unit is in data communication with the computing unit. At least one of the elongated armoring elements of the first sensor containing armoring layer is a sensor containing element. The sensor containing elements each having integrated therein at least a part of one or more of the optical fiber sensor units, the optical fiber sensor units of the first sensor containing armoring layer extending along a monitoring length section of the flexible pipe, and the optical fiber sensor units being arranged to measure a change in strain of the respective sensor containing elements. The invention further relates to a method of detecting a break in an elongated armoring element.