Smart Leak Detection Pipes - 27657

该项目将为现有和新的水管开发一种易于安装的泄漏检测系统。基于位于管道外部的独立传感器节点，系统将检测压力和振动的变化，以指示泄漏的形成及其发生时的位置.该系统的创新特点包括，内部条件是从管道外部监测，使用传感器以前没有使用过，因为它们需要电源，现在将由一种新型的放射性同位素电池供电，持续管道本身的寿命。这些特点共同开发了一种低成本、易于安装的系统，该系统将持续管道的使用寿命。这将允许这些传感器沿着管道的长度安装，这样所有的水分配管道可以被真实的时间监测，消除位置误差和当前的延迟，在识别泄漏，由于需要泄漏流量增长到一个大小，它可以被识别在一个地区流量计。OFWAT估计水损失3281毫升/天在英国在2010年通过泄漏管道。据估计，全世界每年损失320亿立方米（世界银行，2006年）。这些水是从“蓝水循环”中流失的。并非所有的泄漏都是可见的，通过监测流入离散区域的流量或通过沿管道长度沿着缓慢且耗时的调查，最初可以识别出不可见的泄漏。这意味着泄漏直到它们增长到一定的规模才被发现，而这个“意识时间”可能长达几周甚至几个月，并导致大量的水在此之前流失。虽然这一时间可能会有所不同，但通常认为它比查明和修复泄漏所需的时间要长得多。消除延迟将大大减少水的损失-仅在这个国家就减少了1000 Ml/d以上（仅STW的塞文特伦特水务公司就减少了约450 Ml/d，该公司拥有约1/8的管网）。因此，在全球范围内，该方法有可能节省远远超过所需的1000 Ml/d。泄漏会对社会产生巨大影响。在许多发展中国家，这往往是供水不稳定或无法将更多的人连接到供水管网的主要原因。水经过处理，并以大量的嵌入式能源泵送;因此，减少泄漏也减少了能源浪费。泄漏控制是英国和世界各地水务公司的主要活动，这是一项监管要求。全世界都需要新的泄漏识别方法，以减少识别和定位泄漏所需的时间，特别需要塑料管道泄漏管理系统，因为它们对当前的泄漏检测技术反应不佳。该合作项目由Watershed Associates的Jo帕克领导，他在泄漏控制方面拥有多年经验，并成功完成了技术战略委员会的VISTA项目，这一点在苏格兰的研究成果中得到了体现。它包括两家代表最终用户的英国水务公司，共供应25%的英国人口; STW和United Utilities（UU）。伯明翰大学（UoB）将领导由专门开发泄漏管理电子系统的中小企业GCR Tech支持的研究开发。它还包括一个公用事业承包商，莫里森公用事业服务，（MUS）将开发一个快速，低成本的安装技术。因此，该联盟可以开发产品，并通过英国和世界各地专门从事泄漏管理的专业网络进行销售。

This project will develop an easy to install leak detection system for existing and new water pipes. Based on self-containedsensor nodes located on the outside of the pipe the system will detect changes in pressure and vibration to indicate theformation of leaks and their location as they occur. The innovative features of the system include the fact that internalconditions are monitored from the outside of the pipe using sensors not used before due to their need for a power source,which now will be supplied by a novel radioisotopic battery lasting the lifetime of the pipes themselves. These featurestogether develop a low cost, easy to install system which will last the lifetime of the pipes. This will allow these sensors tobe installed along the lengths of pipes such that all water distribution pipes can be monitored in real time, eliminatinglocation errors & the current delay in identifying leaks due to the need for the leak flow to grow to a size where it can beidentified on a district flow meter.OFWAT estimated water losses of 3281 Ml/day in the UK in 2010 through leaking pipes. It is estimated that 32 billion cubicmetres are lost every year worldwide (World Bank 2006). This water is lost from the 'blue water cycle'. Not all leaks arevisible and the non visible leaks are initially identified through monitoring flows into discrete areas or via slow and timeconsuming surveys along the lengths of pipes. This means that leaks are not identified until they have grown to sufficientsize and this 'awareness time' can amount to several weeks or even months and lead to a large amount of water being lostbefore then. Whilst this time can vary, it is generally seen as considerably longer than the time taken to pinpoint and repairleaks. Eliminating the delay will substantially reduce the water lost - in this country alone by over 1000 Ml/d (~450 Ml/dayfor Severn Trent Water, STW, alone, who own ~1/8th of the network). Thus, on a worldwide basis the approach has thepotential to save considerably more than the required 1000 Ml/d. Leakage can have dramatic effects on society. In manydeveloping countries it is frequently the principal cause of intermittant supplies or the inability to connect more people to the pipes water network. The water has been treated and pumped with substantial embedded energy; therefore reducingleakage also reduces energy wastage.Leakage control is a major activity for water utilities in both the UK, where it is a regulatory requirement, and throughout theworld. New methods of identifying leaks which reduce the time taken to identify and locate leaks are needed worldwide.There is a particular need for systems to manage leakage on plastic pipes due to their poor response to current leakagedetection techniques. This collaborative project is led by Jo Parker of Watershed Associates, who has many yearsexperience in leakage control and who managed the Technology Strategy Board's VISTA project to successful completionexemplified by the take up of the research outcomes in Scotland. It includes 2 UK water companies representing the enduser and together supplying 25% of the UK population; STW and United Utilities (UU). The University of Birmingham (UoB)will lead the research development supported by an SME specialising in developing electronic systems for themanagement of leakage, GCR Tech. It also includes a utility contractor, Morrison Utility Services, (MUS) which will developa fast, low cost installation technology. Thus, the consortium can develop the product and market it through theprofessional networks specialising in leakage management in the UK and worldwide.