Multi-leaks Detection and Sizing in Viscoelastic Pipeline System

This paper presents a technique for detecting and locating several leaks in a single viscoelastic pipe by means of transient analysis. The system studied is a reservoir-pipe-valve one. The viscoelastic behavior of the pipe wall material is modeled by a generalized Kelvin-Voigt model. To determine the leak location the mathematical formulation has been solved by the characteristics method. The method uses transient pressure waves initiated by the sudden closure of a downstream shut-off valve. The computed results describe the influence of the multi-leaks on pressure time-history and the effect of leaks locations on the pressure signal behavior. The results show that the method of characteristics is for great importance to model and simulate the affect of multi-leaks on transient pressure. Sensitivity of the proposed method on the location of the leak is determined in the case: two or three leaks. The effects of Young’s modulus are also investigated.