SmartPipes: Smart Wireless Sensor Networks for Leak Detection in Water Pipelines

Abstract

Asset monitoring, specifically infrastructure monitoring such as water distribution pipelines, is becoming increasingly critical for utility owners who face new challenges due to an aging network. In the UK alone, during the period of 2009-2010, approximately 3281 mega litres (10 6) of water were wasted due to failure or leaks in water pipelines. Various techniques can be used for the monitoring of water distribution networks. This paper presents the design, development and testing of a smart wireless sensor network for leak detection in water pipelines, based on the measurement of relative indirect pressure changes in plastic pipes. Power consumption of the sensor nodes is minimised to 2.2 µW based on one measurement every 6 h in order to prolong the lifetime of the network and increase the sensor nodes' compatibility with current levels of power available by energy harvesting methods and long life batteries. A novel pressure sensing method is investigated for its performance and capabilities by both laboratory and field trials. The sensors were capable of measuring pressure changes due to leaks. These pressure profiles can also be used to locate the leaks.

A Statistical Framework for Automatic Leakage Detection in Smart Water and Gas Grids

“…Many shortcomings still affect the development of proper applications for water and natural gas grids' monitoring, as reported in the comprehensive survey by Fagiani et al [2], despite the availability of advanced metering systems [3][4][5] andsensor fault diagnosis frameworks [6,7]. Specifically, in recent years, a wide set of machine learning and computational intelligence approaches have been focusing on the fulfillment of the smart-home and the smart-grid paradigms.…”

A simple method to determine leakage location in water distribution based on pressure profiles

“…These conditions have caused a new problem which is often encountered in big cities such as where the pipeline leaks and how to solve it. A detection system should have a fast response to search the leak location which able to minimize harm to people, the limitation of losses and decrease environmental damage [1][2][3]. Various methods and systems have been developed and studied for water distribution networks such as mass/volume balance, static decision, negative pressure, transient model, distributed optical fiber, acoustic method, etc.…”

Vibration Detection in Water Pipelines Leakage Using Wireless Three-Axis Accelerometer Sensor

“…When the acoustic and vibration methods are compared for a real plastic water pipeline, the vibration sensor is the most accurate sensor for detecting and locating leaks. In fact, cross-correlation analysis is used to analyse acoustic and vibration data to detect and locate leaks [6].…”