A sensor network for non-intrusive and efficient leak detection in long pipelines

Our society relies on extensive pipeline networks to transfer and deliver water, oil, etc. In many cases the pipeline extends over hundreds of miles and run through inhospitable environments. The pipes are often subject to erosion over time due to the parametric conditions. In addition, pipes carrying valuable commodity may be subject to theft, sabotage, etc. Leakage not only would waste resources, but also can be harm and hazardous. Therefore detecting leakage and containing its negative effect is very important. Current pipeline monitoring systems are inefficient and costly. They lack responsiveness and often report the problem after significant fluid is spilled. Furthermore, current systems involve mobile equipment and significant manpower. This paper describes the design of a wireless sensor networks that continuously monitor a pipeline and provide an early warning when leakage starts. The proposed leak detection system employs non-intrusive methods to track the flow speed and interprets the drop of flow volume as indication of liquid loss through a crack in a pipe. The system is composed of a set of ultrasonic transducers that are mounted around the pipe in multiple locations. The system combines the transit-time and Doppler based flow speed measurements in order to deal with various liquid characteristics. The data collected by the individual components are sent over multi-hop routes to a base-station over radio links for further analysis. The simulation results have confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed system.