RAINDROP: tRansforming Acoustic SensINg for leak detection in trunk mains and water DistRibutiOn Pipelines

Completed

Not Energy Related
Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (General Engineering and Mineral & Mining Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr J Muggleton
Sch of Engineering
University of Southampton

Standard

EPSRC

01 October 2021

31 December 2024

39 months

£702,768

Civil eng. & built environment

South East

NC : Engineering

Dr J Muggleton, Sch of Engineering, University of Southampton

Professor P Joseph, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton
Professor PR White, Sch of Engineering, University of Southampton

Project Contact, University of Trento (UniTrento), Italy
Project Contact, gfai tech GmbH, Germany
Project Contact, Sustainable Pipeline Systems
Project Contact, Ovarro LD Limited
Project Contact, Portsmouth Water Ltd
Project Contact, Sintela
Project Contact, Optasense
Project Contact, Applied Graphene Materials plc
Project Contact, AP Sensing
Project Contact, UK Water Industry Research Ltd (UKWIR)
Project Contact, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

This proposal aims to develop a suite of three innovative acoustic sensing technologies for detecting water leaks in trunk and distribution mains that is able to provide significantly improved detection relative to current capabilities and enable the step change necessary to meet the challenges facing the water industry. Although primarily aimed at the water industry, aligning with the UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) initiative 'Zero Leakage 2050', the work is also relevant to the gas and oil sectors. Leakage from pipes is a major issue in all three sectors, wasting natural resources, resulting in negative environmental and economic impacts, and causing serious safety risks. In the water industry, acoustic methods are the dominant methods for detecting leaks. However, successful application of existing methods requires regular access to the pipes, e.g. via a hydrant, which fundamentally limits the application of these methods. These problems are particularly acute in water trunk mains, in plastic pipes and in long distance oil and gas pipelines.The technologies we shall develop are:(i) Monitoring acoustic pressure along an entire pipeline using distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) using circumferential on-pipe optical fibres(ii) Coupling the vibration of the pipe wall at discrete locations to the ground surface using fine metal rods, the top of which can be monitored using conventional sensors (e.g. accelerometers or geophones)(iii) A portable 'geo- camera' to detect and pinpoint leaks from the ground surfaceReceiving widespread endorsement from both UK Water Industry Research and their members, along with the UK Water Leakage Network, they open up possibilities for both distributed acoustic monitoring of pipelines for leak prevention, as well as the remote detection of leaks.The research will comprise theoretical modelling, with a focus on physics-based mechanistic approaches; experimental measurements, in the laboratory, at outdoor test sites and on the live water network; and signal processing.

11/11/21