Filtering techniques to improve efficiency of leak localization in pipelines

This work presents very simple and efficient filtering techniques to improve the accuracy of the localization procedure based on gradient increments. The procedure can be successfully used to localize a location of leakage that occurred during steady-state pipeline conditions. It also shows possibilities of using the procedure to localize a leak point related to the occurrence of a leak in transient state. The effectiveness of the filtering techniques has been proven by the results of localization errors in function of time response. They relate to the use of real measured pressure signals obtained for the experiments with simulated small leaks between 0.2–0.8% of nominal flow rate. The experiments were carried out on the pilot pipeline described earlier.