Detection and Location of a Partial Blockage in a Pipeline Using Damping of Fluid Transients
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 131, Issue 3
Abstract
The effects of a partial blockage on pipeline transients are investigated analytically. A partial blockage is simulated using an orifice equation, and the influence of the blockage on the unsteady pipe flow is considered in the governing equations using a Dirac delta function. A simplified, linear dimensionless governing equation has been derived, and an analytical solution expressed in terms of a Fourier series has been developed under nonvarying boundary conditions. The linear analysis indicates that pipe friction and a partial blockage both introduce damping on fluid transients. The friction damping and blockage damping are exponential for each of the individual harmonic components. For each individual harmonic component, the blockage-induced damping depends on the blockage magnitude and position and is also independent of measurement location and the transient event. A new blockage detection method using the blockage-induced transient damping is developed based on the analytical solution. The magnitude of the blockage-induced damping rate indicates the size of the blockage, and the ratios of different damping rates can be used to locate the blockage. The proposed blockage detection method has been successfully used in detecting, locating, and quantifying a pipe blockage based on laboratory experiments.
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Acknowledgments
The research presented in this paper has been supported by the Australian Research Council Discover Grant, funded by the Australian Government and the University of Adelaide through an overseas student scholarship to the first writer.
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Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 131 • Issue 3 • May 2005
Pages: 244 - 249
Copyright
© 2005 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 31, 2004
Accepted: Dec 1, 2004
Published online: May 1, 2005
Published in print: May 2005
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