Novel Method for Discontinuity Detection in Pipelines Carrying Oils and Gases

Abstract

Transportation of fluids such as crude oil and natural gases through pipelines is crucial with utmost precaution needed to be taken to avoid leakage or burst of these pipelines. In this paper, a hardware-based novel method is proposed to detect the leakage in the pipeline. Aluminum strips consisting of parallel plates are used to predict the length at which the discontinuity is witnessed. These strips are inscribed on the surface of the pipeline. The self-capacitance of the strip is directly proportional to the length. The reduction in length reports a reduction in the value of self-capacitance. The value of self-capacitance increases with temperature; however, it still remains a function of length only. Application of load uniformly over the strip releases the trapped air. As a result, self-capacitance increases until all the trapped air is removed, after which register no change in self-capacitance with increased load. For a strip breadth of 0.001 m, the reported accuracy for detection of discontinuity is ±0.04 m.