Pipeline leak detection by impulse response extraction

A system's response to an impulse can be used to detect and diagnose abnormalities. The impulse response can be extracted by using cross-correlations between a low amplitude pseudo random binary disturbance input and the system's output. This fact is applied to pipeline hydraulics asa means of real-time non-interruptive integrity monitoring. A method of generating the pseudo random binary disturbance is proposed. The extraction of a pipeline's impulse response with the presence of noise is investigated. The features of the response of an intact pipeline and characteristic changes in the impulse response as a result of a leak are established. The feasibility of using impulse response to detect and to locate a leak in real-time is demonstrated.