The determination and identification of stray current source influences on buried pipelines using time/frequency analysis

摘要

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to detect the source of stray current interference on underground pipelines in urban areas using a joint time/frequency method of signal analysis. Design/methodology/approach - Investigations are performed on an underground pipeline located in the vicinity of the two direct current tractions: a tramway line and a train line. The results of the analysis are presented in the form of spectrograms, which illustrate changes in the spectral power density of the potential of the rails and of the potential of the pipe in the joint domain time-frequency. Findings - The comparison of the spectrograms can be used to evaluate if and which stray current source has influence on the investigated metal construction. Originality/value - The combined analysis in the domain of time and frequency can be used as a supplementary one providing new information useful in the evaluation of stray current corrosion hazard. In the presence of several electric field sources in urban areas, this method reveals the complete time-frequency characteristic of each stray current source and its interference on the investigated construction.