FFT- Based Algorithm Improvements for Detecting Leakage in Pipelines

There is a strong urge for methodologies for leak detection in pipelines and location that are quick and require less costly instrumentation. Moreover they should not cause the cessation of pipeline operation, and not require that the whole network be surveyed by trained personnel; leak detection methodologies based on transient analysis can achieve these goals. Basing the reflexion according to fast detecting systems, spectral analysis response is a topic of interest. Among spectral analysis response techniques, FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) and wavelets are included. Different other techniques are utilized but they are costly and difficult to be used. The research proposes the use of FFT for smaller and zigzag pipelines by overcoming limitations encountered in current scientific literature. The developed improvements, used for pipeline section small than 20 cm, permit to prevent, with interesting accuracy, the leakage.