Related Studies

Based on the papers presented by Weiguo Lin and Xin Zhang (2006), using the dynamic type of
piezoelectric pressure sensor can provide more sensitive and distinct information than absolute
pressure transducer, it transforms changes in pressure to changes in voltage without the use of
mechanical linkage- on existence of any hysteresis, either of which can distort the voltage
signal. So, it can reflect leakage more quickly and sensitively. The test site was applied into a
62.5 km long pipeline segment in Xinjiang province, the sampling period is 10ms, the velocity of
pressure drop wave travels upstream is 1045 m/s, downstream is 1075 m/s, the working
pressure is 2.0 MPa at upper station and 1.8 MPa at down station. The Figure 13 illustrates the
locating diagram.

Figure 13: Diagram of leak locating

The formula governing this method is as follows:

∆ T V 1 V 2+V 1 L
X=
V 1+ V 2

The table below shows the Leak Detection Test results and the flow chart for leak declaring and leak
locating.
 Table : Leak Detection Test Results

Figure 14: Flow Chart for Leak Declaring and Leak locating

According to Weigou and Zhang (2006), the test results demonstrate the effectives of the
proposed approach of a dynamic type of pressure sensor based on piezoelectric dynamic pressure
transducer. It shows that this method can detect smaller leak, its response time is about 2 minutes and
the locating error is less than 120 meters.
citation
Weiguo Lin and Xin Zhang, "A Novel Approach for Dynamic Pressure Transducer Based Pipeline Leak
Detection," 2006 6th World Congress on Intelligent Control and Automation, 2006, pp. 5299-5303, doi:
10.1109/WCICA.2006.1714081.

Biblatex

@INPROCEEDINGS{1714081, author={Weiguo Lin and Xin Zhang}, booktitle={2006 6th World Congress
on Intelligent Control and Automation}, title={A Novel Approach for Dynamic Pressure Transducer
Based Pipeline Leak Detection}, year={2006}, volume={2}, number={}, pages={5299-5303},
doi={10.1109/WCICA.2006.1714081}}

According to K. Exaudi and R. Passarella (2018), through their studies of using pressure
sensors towards pipeline leakage detection that one method or theory for leak detection that
they used was Continues Wavelet Transform or CWT which is define as time and frequency
domain decomposition method where the convolution process between signal with a window
function. The window function and scale can change at any time.

Figure 15: Installation Systems Pipe Leaks

The results of the studies proves that the pipe leakage- detection system can be identified
correctly based on the pressure difference between two sensors. During that pipe obtains
leaking the pressure in the pipe decreases. When there is no leakage, the pressure remains
stable. That also can be analyzed using the CWT method.
K. Exaudi, R. Passarella, Rendyansyah and R. Zulfahmi, "Using Pressure Sensors towards
Pipeline Leakage Detection," 2018 International Conference on Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science (ICECOS), 2018, pp. 89-92, doi: 10.1109/ICECOS.2018.8605251.

@INPROCEEDINGS{8605251, author={Exaudi, Kemahyanto and Passarella, Rossi and

Rendyansyah and Zulfahmi, Rido}, booktitle={2018 International Conference on Electrical
Engineering and Computer Science (ICECOS)}, title={Using Pressure Sensors towards
Pipeline Leakage Detection}, year={2018}, volume={}, number={}, pages={89-92},
doi={10.1109/ICECOS.2018.8605251}}

Related Literature

According to Moore (1999), on his technical review for the Leak Detection System of State of
Alaska discussed about the pressure transducer as part of the major components of computer-
based Leak Detection Systems (LDS). He stated that Pipeline pressure is measured by the
displacement of these devices in response to fluid pressure and is converted electronically to an
appropriate current, voltage, or digital output signal. The sensors typically are ceramic, silicon,
or stainless steel. Ceramic is corrosion and abrasion resistant, has superb electrical isolation,
and a high natural frequency. Silicon, an elastic drift-free material, offers low cost and is the
most common material used. The accuracy of these transducers is typically +/-0.1% of span.
Recent developments in micro processing have resulted in the creation of a new generation of
“smart” pressure transducers.
He noted that another type of pressure transducer that has potential pipeline applications is the
vibrating wire sensor. This transducer operates on the premise that as pressure changes, the
tension on a tungsten wire enclosed in a silicon diaphragm is altered, and the result is a
measurable change in the resonating frequency of the wire. The change in frequency is sensed
and amplified, and data are provided to the pipeline controller. Pressure and temperature
compensation is accomplished within the instrument. While it has shown considerable reduction
in size and manufacturing costs from other sensors, this technology is still in the experimental
stage and has not been extensively applied in the field.
 Figure: Diagram of Vibrating wire sensor.
Source: Tedd Moore, (1999), “Technical Review of Leak Detection Technologies Report,
Volume I and II, September 1999.”