Leak Detection in Fluid Networks Using Digital Model Signatures

The patent creates a digital copy of the physical water network including pipe geometry, material properties, and operational parameters. This digital model is used to simulate leak scenarios and generate expected sensor responses, eliminating the need for numerous physical acoustic sensors while maintaining leak detection capability through virtual experimentation and comparison with actual sensor data.

The patent replaces the mechanical/acoustic listening system with a computational system. Instead of using microphones and acoustic sensors to physically listen for leaks, the system uses computer simulations to predict leak signatures and compares these with data from existing operational sensors (flow meters, pressure sensors), substituting mechanical acoustic detection with information processing and mathematical modeling.

The digital model creates a controlled virtual environment where leak scenarios are simulated without environmental acoustic interference. The simulation generates expected sensor responses purely from hydrodynamic principles, free from road traffic noise, wind, or other acoustic disturbances that plague physical acoustic listening methods.

The patent substitutes acoustic measurement with computational modeling and comparison. Instead of measuring acoustic signals that are vulnerable to environmental noise, the system compares simulated hydrodynamic responses with actual sensor readings, eliminating susceptibility to acoustic disturbances while maintaining leak detection reliability.

The patent segments the network into computational models of individual pipe sections and nodes, allowing simulation of leaks at specific locations. This enables precise localization by comparing simulated leak signatures from different locations with actual sensor data, achieving high precision without the coarse sectorization approach while maintaining ease of operation through automated computational analysis.

The patent changes the approach from spatial sectorization to parameter-based analysis. Instead of dividing the network into geographic sectors, the system varies simulation parameters (leak location, leak rate, pipe material properties) to generate a comprehensive set of possible leak scenarios, then uses parameter optimization to identify the most likely actual leak conditions, achieving both precision and operational simplicity.

The digital model serves as a virtual testbed that allows comprehensive leak detection analysis without adding physical sensors. The simulation replicates the network's hydraulic behavior and predicts sensor responses throughout the entire network, providing detection coverage equivalent to numerous physical sensors while using only the existing sensor infrastructure.

The patent makes existing operational sensors (flow meters, pressure sensors) multi-functional by using them both for their primary purpose (monitoring network operation) and for leak detection. The digital model extracts leak detection information from常规 operational data, eliminating the need for dedicated leak detection sensors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.