Accommodation of multi-leak location in a pipeline

A novel model-based approach is proposed to detect leaks locations in a pipeline using only sensors of flow and pressure at the ends of the duct. The approach assumes a simple nonlinear model of the fluid in a pipeline with leaks, discretizing the spacial variable in nonuniform sections with unknown boundaries that depend on the leaks locations, z1 and z1+z2. The key to the detection and location algorithm is the use of a multi-task scheme: (1) the continuous monitoring and searching of the leak condition, sweeping all feasible leak positions of the duct, and (2) when a leak condition is detected, the scheme switches on and starts the accommodation of the unknown parameters (z1,z2) in the model, so that, an error signal is minimized satisfying physical constraints. Simulation examples with one and two leaks are given to show the effectiveness of the location procedure.