Modeling flow in pipes to detect and locate leaks using a state observer approach

This paper presents the aspects concerning the modeling of flow in pipes to detect and locate leaks,using a state observer based approach. The pipeline model is based on the equations of water hammer,discretized by finite differences. This discretization requires two boundary conditions: the pressure orflow at the inlet and outlet of the pipe. To improve the model, the effect of friction and how to introducethe boundary conditions were modified. Similarly shown, comparisons of simulations with real data, theimportance of considering the variation of the friction coefficient, and also that the correct choice of boundaryconditions, including the equations of the pump and flow restrictions, allow a better representation ofthe behavior dynamic flow. Also shown that the model can be used to estimate the leakage flow and positionusing state observers, and takes as an example the Extended Kalman filter type. It is further noted that themodel obtained, it can work with only two measured variables: output pressure and input stream, insteadof the four considered in previous work.