Detecting a small leakage in a water pipe

Question

Detecting a small leakage in a water pipe

Giskard (Nuclear)

(OP)

3 Apr 02 12:13

  Hello,

  Somebody has told me about a kind of "continuous detector" along a water pipe that is able to detect a small leakage at any point of it. It seems that the system consists of some kind of cable that is attached to the outside part of the pipe. Some of its properties change when it is wet and these properties (conductivity?) are monitored so, in that way, any leakage at any point of the pipe could be detected.

  All of this is new to me. Does anybody know if this system or something similar exists and is commercially available?

  In that case, what is the technical name for such a system?

  Does anybody know the name of any company that deals with these systems?

  Thanks in advance for your help.
  Giskard

MJCronin (Mechanical) · Answer 1 · 2002-04-04 12:50:55

giskard,

You may want to try the people who manufacture "double pipe" underground piping systems...... they offer a "tape" or conductor that can be used to pinpoint a leaking segment.

I believe that the change in capacitance is used to locate the leak on the detection "wire" or "tape". A packaged unit is sold with the system that will alarm and locate the leaking pipe segment.

Try www.permapipe.com

Cheers...

MJC

stanier (Mechanical) · Answer 2 · 2002-04-04 16:50:47

AT the ARBS exhibition in Sydney recently Tyco were showing their Raychem product. This had the ability to demonstrate where the heat tracing had failed to the nearest metre. In addtion it would detect water ingress to the underfloor heating system. Try the Raychem website.

Giskard (Nuclear) · Answer 3 · 2002-04-05 01:18:21

Thank you very much, MJCronin and Stanier, I will explore those links to find the information I'm looking for.

Giskard

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Detecting a small leakage in a water pipe