Abstract
In a hydraulic system, pressure surges occur during the transition from one steady state to another state. The pressure waves travel at speeds close to the sound waves. The pressurized water flow can be analyzed with the aids of propagation wave theory. The Bergeron-Schnyder relationship holds between pressures and flow rates at large interval of pipe line.
This paper developes a new concept of fault detection of pipe line based on the Bergeron-Schnyder relationship. Two criteria functions λ(t) and, μ(t) are defined which are calculated from real time measurements of pressures and flow rates, so as to detect whether the pipe line is sound or defective. When a break or leak occurs, the criteria functions give the informations that the pipe line is ‘abnormal’. It is shown that the break point can be located by two criteria functions and also leak flow can be estimated. For the purposes of feasibility, the three cases simulations are exemplified, which show the appropriate informations of the state of water pipe line.
