2009 Second International Conference on Developments in eSystems Engineering

Real Time Water Pipes Leak Detection Using EM

Waves for the Water Industry

J. H. Goh, A. Shaw, J.D. Cullen, A. I. Al-Shamma’a M. Oliver, M. Vines, M. Brockhurst

Liverpool John Moores University, General Engineering Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, West Service Road,
Research Institute (GERI), RF and Microwave Group, Byrom Raynesway, Derby, DE21 7BG, UK
Street, Liverpool, L3 3AF, UK
j.h.goh@2006.ljmu.ac.uk

method of identifying areas of actual leakage, but DSP [5]

analysis takes hours to complete.
Abstract— This project concerns the use of an electromagnetic
sensor for the detection of leaks/cracks in water pipes. As old As a result, a new method was introduced which is
metal pipes corrode, they start to become brittle, resulting in the electromagnetic wave propagation. The high EM frequency at
potential for cracks to appear in the pipes. In addition the megahertz (MHz) is used to propagate in the water over short
corrosion can build up resulting in a restricted flow of water in and long distances. The speed of an EM wave in vacuum is
the pipe. By using an electromagnetic sensor to monitor in real
time the signal reflected from the pipes, this will provide the
3 × 10 8 m / s . The speed of an EM wave in water is affected
necessary information to determine where a leak in the pipe has by a factor ε r µr , where εr is the relative permittivity, and
a problem because of the change in the reflected signal. By
analysing the reflected signal, we can determine the condition of µr is the relative permeability. The εr for the water at the
leak within the pipe, and therefore can report back to the frequencies considered is approximately 81, µr is 1,
operator. This paper presents an overview of the system
designed, and also its construction in a scale suitable for therefore, the speed of the EM wave in water is,
insertion into a 100mm diameter water pipe.
cvacuum 3 × 10 8
c water ≈ ≈ ≈ 3.33 × 10 7 m / s (1)
I. INTRODUCTION ε r µr 81 × 1
This research is to investigate that electromagnetic (EM)
II. ELECTROMAGNETIC (EM) WAVES
waves is possible to virtually pinpoint the exact location of the
leak on water pipes by using the EM wave Sensor. The The Electromagnetic (EM) waves are always consists of
application for this sensor is can launched live through any Electric (E) and Magnetic (H) field. The Maxwell’s equations
existing hydrant and developed using a mechanical drive on [6-8] are used to predict EM wave propagation in water. The
the launch chamber. electric field strength Ε x and the magnetic field strength
The present technology involves for leak detection are Η y are presented for a linearly polarized plane wave
acoustic and ground penetrating radar. Both of these
techniques have their advantages and limitations. The acoustic propagating in the z direction in equations (2) and (3).
[1,2] techniques are the most widely used in leak detection. Ε x = Ε 0 ⋅ e ( jωt −γz ) (1)
The velocity of sound in water is approximately 1500m/s. The
acoustic is based on the continuous analysis of pipeline Η y = Η 0 ⋅ e ( jωt −γz ) (2)
pressure, flow, temperature and density. It failed to perform
optimally within the criteria of response time, robustness,
where ω is the angular frequency, given as,
reliability, sensitivity, accuracy and cost. The ground ω = 2πf (3)
penetrating radar [3,4] is uses the low EM wave to imaging and γ is the propagation constant given as,
the subsurface by detect the reflected signals from subsurface
structures. It is transmitting the EM wave into the ground, γ = α + jβ (4)
when the wave hit a buried object, the receiving antenna where α is the attenuation constant, and β is the phase
records variations in the reflected return signal. The ground constant, the phase constant is given as,
penetrating radar technique cannot differentiate the buried
object whether is water, gas or oil pipeline. However, the 2π
β= (5)
water companies require a quick, cost justified, large scale λ

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DOI 10.1109/DeSE.2009.74
 III. LOOP ANTENNA
Loop antenna is the directional type antenna which has one
or more complete turns of conductors [9,10]. The loop antenna
has a very low radiation resistance because it acts as inductive
component like a large inductor [11]. The advantages of the
loop antenna is strongly responds to the magnetic field ( Η )
of the EM waves, and less affected by the man-made
interference because it has strong electric field ( Ε ). The loop
antenna is also picks up less noise and provided better signal
to noise ratio (SNR). The wavelength equation of the loop
antenna is given as (6), [12].
λ = πd (6)
where d is the diameter of the loop antenna.
A loop antenna with 28mm of diameter is used for the
experiment which is shown in Figure 1. By theoretical, the
wavelength of this antenna can be calculated by using the
equation (6),
λ = πd = π (0.028) ≈ 0.088m
both results is clearly shown, the peak of the experiment is at
around 310MHz and the peak of the HFSS simulation is at
around 350MHz. The shape of the both results is very similar
and comparable.
Figure 5 shows the software simulation for leak detection.
The 4" cast iron cylinder is filled with fresh water and two
28mm diameter loop antenna is in each port. A crack is made
on the cast iron cylinder. The leak detection is simulated by
using HFSS and the simulation result is shown in Figure 6.
From the result, the attenuation is occurs on the signal for the
leakage pipe, the signal is down for 20dB. The signal is drop
sequences for 1, 5 and 10mm width crack.
Figure 7 shows the experiment setup for water pipe leak.
The 4" diameter and 1500mm of length water pipe is filled
with water and two 28mm diameter loop antenna are used for
this experiment. A crack is made on the pipe and the signal is
measured by using a network analyser. Figure 8 shows the
transmission signal |S21| versus Frequency for Leak
Detection. The attenuation is occurs on the signal for leakage
pipe. The signal is down for 30dB at around 230MHz.

and the frequency of this antenna V. CONCLUSION

In this research, it proved the propagation of EM waves at
3 × 10 8
c high frequency in the water is possible. Propagation of EM
f = = ≈ 3.4GHz waves in water has a range of variation affected by parameters
λ 0.088 including permittivity (ε ) , conductivity (σ ) . The HFSS and
If the antenna is in water, then the wavelength of this experiment result are very identical and comparable. The
antenna was affected by a factor ε r µ r . Therefore, the attenuation is observed as indication for water pipe leaks. For
further work and development, it can try the leak at different
wavelength in water can be calculated as, position and the pipe is more than one leak. It can also
compare the lab result with the industry result. Finally is to
c 3 × 10 8 build the EM waves sensor, the sensor are consists of PIC
f = = ≈ 380MHz
ε r µr ⋅ λ 81 × 1 × 0.088 microcontroller, amplifier, voltage controller oscillator
(VCO), detector and coupler.
IV. EXPERIMENT AND RESULTS
Figure 1 shows the experiment setup for water pipe. The
water pipe is from Balfour Beatty with 4" diameter and
510mm of length. The water pipe is filled with water and two
28mm diameter loop antenna are used. One of the loop
antenna is for transmit and another one is for receive. This
experiment is to know how the signal looks like when it
propagates in the pipeline. The signal is measured by using a
network analyser.
Figure 2 shows the software simulation for water pipe. The
4" cast iron cylinder is filled with fresh water and two 28mm
diameter loop antenna is in each port. The simulation is
simulated by using High Frequency Simulation Structure
(HFSS).
Figure 3 shows the reflection signal |S11| versus
Frequency for Experiment and HFSS. The peak of the both
results is approximately in the same frequency region around
510mm Balfour
480MHz. Both of the results have the same shape, identical Beatty Water Pipe
and comparable. Figure 4 shows the transmission signal |S21|
versus Frequency for Experiment and HFSS. The peak of the Figure 1. Experiment Setup for Water Pipe

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 Figure 2. HFSS Simulation for Water Pipe

-2

-4

-6
|S11| (dB)

-8

-10
Experiment Result
-12 HFSS Result

-14

-16

-18
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 3. Reflection |S11| versus Frequency for Experiment and HFSS

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 -10

-20

-30
|S21| (dB)

-40

-50 Experiment Result

HFSS Result

-60

-70
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Frequency (MHz)

Figure 4. Transmission |S21| versus Frequency for Experiment and HFSS

Figure 5. HFSS Simulation for Leak Detection

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 -10

-15

-20

-25 Without Leak

Width = 1mm
-30
|S21| (dB)

Width = 5mm
-35 Width = 10mm

-40

-45

-50

-55

-60
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 6. HFSS Simulation Result for Leak Detection

Figure 7. Experiment Setup for Water Pipe Leak

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 -20
-30
-40
-50
-60
|S21| (dB)

-70
-80
-90
No Leak
-100
Leak
-110
-120
-130
200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600
Frequency (MHz)
Figure 8. Transmission signal |S21| versus Frequency for Leak Detection

VI. REFERENCES
[1] M.J. Brennan, P.F. Joseph, J.M. Muggleton and Y. Gao, “Some
Recent Research Results on the use of Acoustic Methods to
Detect Water Leaks in Buried Plastic water Pipes”, Institute of
Sound and Vibration Research, University of Southampton
[2] D.B.Sharp and D.M.Campbell, “Leak Detection in Pipes Using
Acoustic Pulse Reflectometry”, Department of Physics and
Astronomy, University of Edinburgh
[3] S.R. Pennock, M.A. Redfern, and Q. Shan, “Subsurface Illumination
And Propagation In Ground Penetrating Radar”, Department of
Electronic & Electric Engineering, University of Bath, 2006
[4] Mansor Nakhkash and Mohammad R. Mahmood-Zadeh, “Water
Leak Detection Using Ground Penetrating Radar”, Tenth
International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, 21-24
June 2004
[5] Yumei Wen, Ping Li, Jin Yang and Zhangmin Zhou, “Information
Processing in Buried Pipeline Leak Detection System”, College
of Opto-electronic Engineering, University of Chongqing , 2004
[6] John D. Kraus and Daniel A. Fleisch, “Electromagnetics With
Applications, 5th Edition”, McGraw-Hill International Editions,
1999
[7] David H. Staelin, Ann W. Morgenthaler and Jin Au Kong,
“Electromagnetic Waves”, Prentice Hall International, Inc,
1994
[8] John D. Kraus, “Electromagnetics, 4th Edition”, McGraw-Hill
International Editions, 1992
[9] Constantine A. Balanis, “Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, 3rd
Edition”, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2005
[10] K.F. Lee, “Principles of Antenna Theory”, Wiley, 1984
[11] Joseph Carr, “Antenna Toolkit, 2nd Edition”, Newnes, 2001
[12] John D. Kraus and Ronald J. Marhefka, “Antennas For All
Applications”, McGraw-Hill International Editions, 2002

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