Leak Detection in Water-Filled Small-Diameter Polyethylene Pipes by Means of Acoustic Emission Measurements

TLDR

Managing leaks is essential for utilities to reduce water losses in urban distribution networks. The study aims to detect leaks early in small‑diameter customer connections. An experimental campaign tested Acoustic Emission monitoring on a 28‑m, 32‑mm polyethylene pipe with artificially induced leaks at various distances from a transducer, under both buried and unburied conditions. The study found a clear correlation between total Hits, cumulative counts, cumulative amplitude and leak characteristics.

Abstract

The implementation of effective strategies to manage leaks represents an essential goal for all utilities involved with drinking water supply in order to reduce water losses affecting urban distribution networks. This study concerns the early detection of leaks occurring in small-diameter customers’ connections to water supply networks. An experimental campaign was carried out in a test bed to investigate the sensitivity of Acoustic Emission (AE) monitoring to water leaks. Damages were artificially induced on a polyethylene pipe (length 28 m, outer diameter 32 mm) at different distances from an AE transducer. Measurements were performed in both unburied and buried pipe conditions. The analysis permitted the identification of a clear correlation between three monitored parameters (namely total Hits, Cumulative Counts and Cumulative Amplitude) and the characteristics of the examined leaks.