Going leak-hunting in industrial facilities has traditionally been problematic for pipe-repair technicians. And that’s because the excessive noise that characterizes these environments makes it very hard to pinpoint leak locations without actually digging up sections of pipe or shutting down operations.

But now, an exciting breakthrough in acoustic leak detection has made this issue of thing of the past. Trenchless Technology online reports that new acoustic technologies were recently able to find and isolate a leak in the water system of a bottling plant in Shanyang, China. The plant was losing 150,000 liters of treated water a day. No one knew where the leak was and, worse still, how that leak could be repaired without disrupting production.

This new acoustic detection method uses “sensor and signal conditioning technologies [to] substantially reduce both electronic ‘white’ noise, as well as ambient background noise often created by running water, traffic or pumps.” It works on all different kinds of pipes regardless of such variables as material, diameter and geometry.

Like all other trenchless technologies, the method is non-invasive. It uses “standard pipe appurtenances such as hydrants, valves, or direct attachments to the pipe’s outer wall.” Moreover, “the system also has the ability to assess the structural condition of transmission mains and distribution pipelines.”

Engineers were able to survey the water system at the bottling plant in less than a day. To get the data they needed, they  put two hydrophones on fire hydrants and valves that connected to various sections of the water pipeline system. They then “listened for variations of acoustic signals induced in the pipe by any of several means: flowing water from hydrants, physically tapping on appurtenances such as valves or by attaching vibro-mechanical shakers to the system.” Changes in acoustic signals helped engineers find the leak which technicians then repaired.

The innovations and success stories from the trenchless world just keep on coming.  Whether it’s in the field of acoustics or actual pipe repair and replacement, no-dig technology is leading the way towards a  brighter future for industrial and metropolitan pipe systems around the world.  Why use anything else?

Melbourne, Australia recently benefitted from No Dig pipe repair technology.

The project, which is estimated to cost AU$20 million, involves replacing two water mains: one measures 600 mm and the other, 300 mm. Both are located in the highly trafficked areas of a major thoroughfare known as William Street.  One of the major intersections along this route sees up to “1400 vehicles per hour” traveling through it between peak weekday hours. Moreover, William Street also serves as a tram route.

City officials decided to go with trenchless technology because doing so would allow “for faster construction and less disruption to traffic and local residents.” It would also mean that the tram could continue to run. Other benefits included minimizing “ [the] excavation/reinstatement of pavement and enabling the removal of [the] old wrought iron main for recycling.”

What took time to determine was the specific type of no dig technology to use. Pipe cracking was deemed unsuitable because of the kinds of pipes the project required.  Slip lining was rejected because “[it] would have reduced the size and capacity of the pipe.” Laser boring and directional drilling were also considered and then dropped as options because “both [would have required] a new alignment and post a higher risk of damaging other utilities during boring and drilling.”

Once the city decided on the pipe ramming method, workers went ahead and established launch and retrieval pits “on either side of the tram lines: [they then removed] sections of the existing pipe. Technicians then took a steel sleeve measuring 819 mm and “rammed [it] over the existing 600 mm wrought pipeline.” They removed the existing pipe and jacked the new one into position.

The method worked so well that city officials plan on using it for other future pipeline projects. With successes like these, trenchless technology is rapidly becoming the method of choice for smart contracting firms everywhere. And no wonder: what city in the world today can afford not to carry on with the important business of doing business?