How To Identify Water Leakages in Pipe Systems?

 

Every year, pipe leaks lead to billions of dollars of damage in processing plants. Fortunately, leakage is an avoidable calamity that can be effectively prevented with the use of a suitable leakage detection system.

The right leak detection system includes a pressure recorder as well as flow monitoring device that enables operators to shut off the flow of media in case of leakage detection. A leak detection system may vary from one application to another as per their specific demands and needs.

There are different types of leak detection devices available and data logger is one of them. In this blog, learn how leaks within a pipe system can be detected and audited with various methods and use of instruments.

Continue reading till the end for all the details.

Significance of Leak Detection

Water loss caused through leakage, wastage or simple theft is known as non-revenue water. It is referred to by the name because it fails to offer revenue to the water supplier as it never reaches its end-users. 

The water loss can be physical losses of water getting out of the system, or unaccounted water that is unmeasured due to faulty meters and meters that have been tampered with. Other reasons might include human error when reading and recording the water system using a flow recorder. 

Emerging as well as available technologies help in detecting and preventing physical water losses. If the physical water loss is not detected and gets accumulated over long durations then they can result in signi­ficant losses even from minor leaks. If water escapes the system then so can the impurities (soil, bacteria, organics, etc.) can get in resulting in impairing the water quality and even rendering it unfit to consume.

Electromagnetic Flow Meter is one of the in-demand technologies that utilizes the electromagnetic sensor for monitoring the signal reflected from the pipes in real time. This helps in getting the necessary information for determining where a leak in the pipe has occurred.

The Oval Gear Flow Meter is another instrument that helps in detecting as well as preventing leakages. This device measures direct volume displacement with accuracy and longer lifespan. The flow meter is best suited for non-conductive fluid applications.

Another common device used for water leakage detection is the Ultrasonic Flow Meter. This instrument enables operators to compare the total flow rate and the flow rate at different points within the system. The site where low flow rate is spotted can be determined as a nearby leak area.

Quantification of non-revenue water losses is done similar to the way water is provided—volume (gallons or liters) per unit of time. Physical water losses can also be measured in large water supply systems in terms of volume of water lost per the total length (miles or kilometers) of the pipelines that make up the water supply system.

The values obtained from the measurements are then compared to the flow rates of water supply and determine the total water percentage lost or otherwise unaccounted for.  

Different Methods for Leak Detection

Primary leakage detection method remains to be the acoustic detection which allows locating pipeline leaks. The method of acoustic leak detection can be described as a systematic method that utilizes listening equipment such as noise logger. 

This type of equipment helps to identify leak sounds by surveying the distribution system and also pinpoint the precise spots of hidden underground leaks. Water that escapes from a pipe crack or leak under high pressure generates a distinct hissing or rushing sound.

This sound can be carried considerable distance along the length of the pipe itself. In this sense, the pipe plays the role of a medium for the transmission of this sound. In doing so, the sound creates vibrations with different pitches for varied pipe lengths, diameters, and materials. While the large diameter PVC pipes can carry sound 100 feet, the small diameter metal pipes have the capacity to carry sound the greatest distance of up to 1,000 linear feet.

With the use of listening devices these sounds can be detected. Experts can also determine the level of leakage with the help of such equipment.

 

Aside from this method, there is also the secondary leakage detection method that utilizes pressure differences. The portable data logger device comes handy in carrying out such leakage detection methods. There are also varied flow meters and pressure gauges fitted in the system for secondary leak detection.

If you are interested in learning more about leakage detection solutions then get in touch with Dutco Tennant LLC now.