Introduction
Pipers® are equipped with an acoustic leak detection sensor. While moving through a pipeline, Pipers® continuously record the relatively quiet flow noise, creating a baseline for the measured sound intensity. When a pipeline is leaking, the jet of liquid passing through the crack or hole generates a characteristic hissing or rushing sound that significantly deviates from the baseline noise in a localized region around the leak. Conversely, if there is no change (or only long-term gradual change) in the average sound intensity along the length of the pipeline, no leaks were detected.
Project description
The Baan Nasai Water Pipeline in the Surat Thani Province is the main source of potable water for Koh Samui, an island that hosts over 2 million visitors per year. The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) has faced problems with leakage in this pipeline for many years and conventional methods of leak detection have failed to solve their problems.
DTS Construction, a family-owned business in Bangkok, deployed Pipers® to inspect the 50 kilometer HDPE pipeline. The survey took 18 hours in total without any disruption to the water flow to Koh Samui.
The leak detection analysis was requested for a 6 km steel section of the pipeline which previously had many leaks. The results from the analysis showed 27 leak signatures in total: 20 with high confidence, 3 with medium confidence and 4 with low confidence. From the subsequent field survey, a total of 24 leaks were found with an accuracy of 5 m or better, while the remaining 3 points have not been opened yet due to challenging site conditions. Below photos show examples of the leak locations.
Pipeline specifications
Pipeline Length | 50 km |
Pipeline Diameter | 700 mm |
Pipeline Material | HDPE |
Content | Potable water |
Location | Thailand |