Underground pipeline leak detection using acoustic emission and crest factor technique

Abstract

Acoustic emission (AE) technique incorporated with uncomplicated signal processing scheme has been demonstrated for underground water pipeline leakage evaluation in petrochemical industries. This technique employed two units of wide-band acoustic emission sensors that were mounted on both ends of the pipe. Various hydrostatic pressures starting from 0 to 16 bars were applied to the pipe and AE signals from both sensors were captured by a personal computer (PC) via acoustic emission system. The crest factor and AE energy are used to evaluate pipe leakage. Four sections of 20-year-old underground water pipeline in petrochemical plant were tested in the experiment. The test results presented that the proposed signal-analyzing technique, the AE energy and crest factor, can be used to evaluate a leakage pipeline sections from totally four at difference areas in the plant. The test results have been proven by visual inspection when the pipeline has been excavated. Therefore, the advantage of using this technique is that underground pipeline to be excavated for maintenance purpose can be prioritized.