Chemical Technology October 2016

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Chemical Technology • October 2016
A pipeline assessment tool capable of pinpointing leaks
and imperfections in water networks is helping to locate
weak spots before they become costly pipe bursts.
P-CAT is a condition assessment technology that allows
pipeline owners and operators to accurately identify
defects and develop cost effective solutions.
It was developed by researchers from the University
of Adelaide in South Australia and commercialised by
water management company Detection Services. P-CAT
co-developer Martin Lambert said the technology was
able to detect leaks, pipeline weak spots and blockages.
“What we are doing is using little pressure waves
in a pipe and essentially we look at the reflection,”
he said. “The wave travels down the pipe and when
it hits a change in the pipe – a leak, a change in the
wall thickness or a deteriorated section of the wall – it
sends a reflection back to the sensors and you can tell
where the defect is.
“It works a bit like a radar system at an airport where
a radar pulse hits a plane and then comes back with a
reflection. Then it’s a matter of determining or under-
standing what you are getting back.”
The technology creates a controlled water hammer
event where a small pressure transient is directed into
the pipeline and is able to run for up to 2 km. Sensor
fittings are placed along the pipeline about every kilo-
metre, which records the reflection of the wave as it
passes each fitting.
The wave speed slows down when sections of the
pipeline are corroded or the wall thickness is reduced
– it is able to determine and analyse the change in
thickness down to about 0,2 mm.
P-CAT breaks up the data collection phase into mul-
tiple short stages to retrieve highly accurate information
and collates a total of about 3-5 km of data per day.
The results are then analysed and the identity of faulty
sections of pipeline are determined.
Business Development Manager Kevin Jamie said
P-CAT could save clients millions in replacement costs.
“The primary benefit of P-CAT is determining pipe wall
thickness,” he said. “It is a very common practice
worldwide for water utilities that pipes have an internal
cement lining – an erosion prevention lining – we will
determine if there are any air or gas pockets in the in-
ternal lining. That’s important because an air pocket is
not only a partial blockage or restriction, but you will find
air or gas pockets will increase the corrosion rates. We
could save clients replacing the whole pipeline, when
they actually only need to replace a small section of it.”
For more information contact Robyn Mills, Media and
Communications Officer, University of Adelaide, on tel:
+61 8 8313 6341; email
au or go to
Zooming in on leaky pipes
saves a flood of problems
FOCUS ON PLANT MAINTENANCE, HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY
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