Acoustic monitoring of pipeline leaks based on fractal analysis of signal

The RELEVANCE of the present study is to develop a new approach to pipeline leak detection based on fractal analysis of acoustic signals. The proposed approach improves the reliability of leak detection by simplifying the interpretation of measurement results and eliminating errors in decision-making.

OBJECT. To study changes in the fractal structure of pipeline vibrations at different distances from the leak site.

METHODS. To analyze the acoustic signals, the methods of normalized range (R/S analysis) and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) were used. Laboratory and field experiments were conducted on pipes made of different materials (polyethylene, polypropylene, metal-plastic, steel).

RESULTS. It was found that sealed pipelines are characterized by a high level of the Hurst exponent of acoustic signals. A decrease in this level indicates a leak. With increasing distance between the vibroacoustic sensor and the leak, the Hurst exponent of the recorded signals increases linearly.

CONCLUSION. Experimental studies confirm the feasibility of monitoring pipeline leaks by analyzing the Hurst exponent of acoustic signals. When monitoring a suspected leak section of a pipeline, it is recommended to install multiple sensors. The signal with the lowest Hurst exponent value will be recorded by the sensor located closest to the leak source.

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