Leak detection, size estimation and localization in water distribution networks containing loops

Abstract

We consider the problem of leak detection, size estimation and localization of leaks in a water distribution network with ring topology, with flow and pressure measurements taken at junctions only. The pipeline system is mapped into an interconnection (cascade) of 2×2 linear hyperbolic systems with an unknown scalar additive boundary parameter coming into the far end of the last PDE system. Using an output signal from the opposite end of the interconnection constructed from known signals, an adaptive observer for estimating the PDE states as well as the unknown additive boundary parameter is designed. The pipeline in which the leakage has occurred is then identified and the total leak size and leak distribution are estimated independently. Provided they occur sufficiently spaced in time, any number of point leaks can be located in the network.