Electrical leak location method for geomembrane liners

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6773501

Darilek, G T; Parra, J O

Geomembrane liners are sheets of polymeric materials used to prevent leakage of waste from and infiltration of rainwater into solid-waste landfills and surface impoundments. The method described consists of voltage applied between the liner and the earth under the liner which produces a relatively uniform electrical-potential distribution in the material of the liner. Leaks are located by mapping the anomaly in the potential distribution caused by current flowing through the leak. The report also describes a computer-simulation model that predicts the effect of a wide range of parameters on the leak signature; testing on a double-lined model; and adaptation of the method to leakage location in cover systems. It also discusses other leakage-detection methods including tracer-gas injection and detection, ground-penetrating radar, and infrared imaging.

• Research Organization: Southwest Research Inst., San Antonio, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6773501
• Report Number(s): PB-88-220496/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510200* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
ELECTRIC MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GROUND DISPOSAL
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LEAK DETECTORS
LINERS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SIMULATION
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT