Cross-Correlation assisted and Time-Difference-of-Arrival based leak source localization on fluid-filled pipelines

In this paper a study of the Cross-Correlation (CC) based, Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) method for leak source localization on fluid-filled, metallic pipelines is presented. Several, frequency domain CC estimators (General Cross-Correlators or GCC) are considered for the implementation of the localization technique, while real leakage, vibro-acoustic dataseries, captured from a real workplace building’s tap water pipe installation are utilized within the current analysis. Certain metrics like the rate of acceptable leak positioning results against all localization estimation experiments conducted, as well as the Relative Localization Error (LRE) of the accepted estimations are calculated and illustrated in order to shed light on the performance characteristics of the TDOA approach (in general and also per adopted CC estimator). The above study is pursued within the framework of project ESTHISIS, with end target the development of a smart sensor system for leakage detection in pipes carrying hydrocarbon products.