A mathematical model for leak location and leak area determination in pipeline networks

• Main Authors: Oyedokun O.I., Oke S.A., Ighravwe D.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Technology, Novi Sad 2013-01-01
• Series: Acta Periodica Technologica
• Subjects: pressure transducer; waves; detection; measurement; simulation
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-7188/2013/1450-71881344133O.pdf

Prompt leak location and leak area determination in oil and gas pipeline installations is an indispensable approach to controlling petroleum products wastages in pipes. However, there is an evident lack of literature information on this subject. In this paper, we modelled leak location detection and leak area determination in pipes by applying two methodologies and gave an illustrative example using simulated data with the aid of Matlab. A comparison of these two approaches resulted in an error of 6.24%, suggesting that the closer the leak is to the measurement station, the lower will be the time interval between two successive waves that will pass through the leak and get to the measurement station. The relationship between the pipe area and coefficient of reflection is parabolic. This contribution is valuable to pipeline engineers in the economic control of leaks.