Accommodation of multi-leak location in a pipeline

摘要

A novel model-based approach is proposed to detect leaks locations in a pipeline using only sensors of flow and pressure at the ends of the duct. The approach assumes a simple nonlinear model of the fluid in a pipeline with leaks, discretizing the spacial variable in nonuniform sections with unknown boundaries that depend on the leaks locations, z_1 and z_1 + z_2. The key to the detection and location algorithm is the use of a multi-task scheme: (1) the continuous monitoring and searching of the leak condition, sweeping all feasible leak positions of the duct, and (2) when a leak condition is detected, the scheme switches on and starts the accommodation of the unknown parameters (z_1, z_2) in the model, so that, an error signal is minimized satisfying physical constraints. Simulation examples with one and two leaks are given to show the effectiveness of the location procedure.