Field tests for leakage, air pocket, and discrete blockage detection using inverse transient analysis in water distribution pipes

It has been suggested over the last ten years that the application of fluid transients could potentially lead to improved leak detection and calibration of pipe roughness in pipe networks using a technique referred to as Inverse Transient Analysis (ITA). During the intervening time, a large amount of numerical and laboratory research has not addressed the complexities involved in the application of ITA to the field. This paper presents preliminary results for an implementation of ITA in a field environment. Leaks, air pockets and discrete blockages with defined characteristics are introduced into two single branch field pipelines in a "controlled manner" and their effects on an induced transient are measured. ITA is used, in some instances, to detect the introduced phenomena. To the best knowledge of the authors, it is the first time transient analysis has been applied to the detection of air pockets and blockages. Findings are made regarding the sensitivity of each type of pipeline phenomena to detection and, where possible, ITA is also used to locate and size leaks and air pockets.Mark Stephens, Martin Lambert, Angus Simpson, John Vítkovský, and John Nixo