Methods for detecting and locating leaks in containment facilities using electrical potential data and electrical resistance tomographic imaging techniques

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2001

OSTI ID:874176

Daily, William D ^[1]; Laine, Daren L ^[2]; Laine, Edwin F ^[3]

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1. Livermore, CA
2. San Anotonio, TX
3. Penn Valley, CA

Methods are provided for detecting and locating leaks in liners used as barriers in the construction of landfills, surface impoundments, water reservoirs, tanks, and the like. Electrodes are placed in the ground around the periphery of the facility, in the leak detection zone located between two liners if present, and/or within the containment facility. Electrical resistivity data is collected using these electrodes. This data is used to map the electrical resistivity distribution beneath the containment liner or between two liners in a double-lined facility. In an alternative embodiment, an electrode placed within the lined facility is driven to an electrical potential with respect to another electrode placed at a distance from the lined facility (mise-a-la-masse). Voltage differences are then measured between various combinations of additional electrodes placed in the soil on the periphery of the facility, the leak detection zone, or within the facility. A leak of liquid through the liner material will result in an electrical potential distribution that can be measured at the electrodes. The leak position is located by determining the coordinates of an electrical current source pole that best fits the measured potentials with the constraints of the known or assumed resistivity distribution.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Leak Location Services, Inc. (San Antonio, TX)
• Patent Number(s): US 6331778
• OSTI ID: 874176
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/324/
additional
alternative
andor
assumed
barriers
beneath
collected
combinations
constraints
construction
containment
coordinates
current
data
detecting
detection
determining
differences
distance
distribution
double-lined
driven
electrical
electrical current
electrical resistance
electrode
electrodes
embodiment
facilities
facility
fits
ground
imaging
impoundments
landfills
leak
leaks
lined
liner
liners
liquid
located
locating
map
material
measured
methods
mise-a-la-masse
periphery
placed
pole
position
potential
potentials
provided
reservoirs
resistance
resistivity
result
soil
source
surface
tanks
techniques
tomographic
tomographic imaging
various combinations
voltage
water
zone