Vitens, a leading Dutch water company, tested DALI® leak detection technology on its dedicated test pipeline. The system was installed without interrupting operations, and during blind tests, DALI successfully identified and located leaks with impressive accuracy.
- Challenge: Vitens needed a reliable method to test leak detection technologies on a 600-meter PVC test pipeline with unknown leak locations.
- Solution: DALI® installed a fiber optic cable in the pressurized pipeline using hygienic protocols, without service interruption.
- Results: DALI accurately detected all leaks within 5 meters and completed the entire process in one working day.
Challenge
Vitens, a major Dutch water utility, needed to test different leak detection systems on its 600-meter test pipeline. Designed for this purpose, the pipeline had various points where artificial leaks could be created. In October 2023, Vitens asked DALI® to participate in a series of blind tests to assess its ability to locate leaks. The test pipeline, made of PVC, operated at a pressure of 3 bar with a 160 mm diameter. Vitens needed a solution that could detect leaks accurately without interrupting pipeline operations.
Solution
DALI® was installed by inserting a fiber optic cable directly into the pressurized pipeline, following strict hygiene protocols to prevent contamination. The installation was seamless, with no service interruptions. Once the system was in place, several blind tests were carried out. The DALI team had no prior information about the leaks’ timing, location, or size. Using its Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) technology, DALI continuously monitored the pipeline in real time, listening for signs of leakage.
Result
DALI successfully detected all leaks above the set threshold and pinpointed their locations with an accuracy of 5 meters. It also correctly estimated the size of each leak. The entire process, from inserting the cable and configuring the system to performing the tests and removing the cable, was completed in a single day. Vitens was impressed with the results, confirming the system’s ability to locate leaks quickly and accurately without disrupting service.
This successful test demonstrated DALI’s value as a reliable, real-time leak detection solution for water utilities.
More information
Let’s have a chat via sales@fluves.com.
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