A two-stage approach to detecting pipeline leaks using wavelet transform and inverse transient analysis

Pipeline leakage results in significant water and energy losses, contaminating drinking water and prompting extensive research for effective solutions. This study employed a two-stage approach to detect leaks in viscoelastic pipelines. In the first stage, wavelet analysis was utilized to identify the number and approximate locations of the leaks. The second stage involved inverse transient analysis (ITA) to precisely determine the leak locations and sizes. To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach, two numerical tests were conducted, followed by four experimental tests for verification. Results from the wavelet analysis indicated a location accuracy of 2%, defining a potential range of ±1% of the pipe length. The ITA determined leak locations and sizes in the numerical tests with errors of less than 1.5% and 2.2%, respectively. Similarly, the method demonstrated errors of less than 1.8% and 3.1% for the experimental tests in locating and sizing the leaks.