Leak detection by inverse transient analysis in an experimental PVC pipe system

摘要

Leakage reduction in water supply systems and distribution networks has been an increasinglynimportant issue in the water industry since leaks and ruptures result in major physical andneconomic losses. Hydraulic transient solvers can be used in the system operational diagnosis,nnamely for leak detection purposes, due to their capability to describe the dynamic behaviournof the systems and to provide substantial amounts of data. In this research work, the associationnof hydraulic transient analysis with an optimisation model, through inverse transient analysis (ITA),nhas been used for leak detection and its location in an experimental facility containing PVC pipes.nObserved transient pressure data have been used for testing ITA. A key factor for the success ofnthe leak detection technique used is the accurate calibration of the transient solver, namelynadequate boundary conditions and the description of energy dissipation effects since PVC pipesnare characterised by a viscoelastic mechanical response. Results have shown that leaks werenlocated with an accuracy between 4–15% of the total length of the pipeline, depending on thendiscretisation of the system model.