Small Amplitude Sharp Pressure Waves to Diagnose Pipe Systems

In this paper the possibility of using transient tests, generated by the Portable Pressure Wave Maker (PPWM) device, as a powerful tool in the management of pipe systems, is demonstrated. Specifically, tests carried out in different experimental set-ups at the Water Engineering Laboratory of the University of Perugia, Italy show that small amplitude sharp pressure waves produced by the PPWM allow to locate and evaluate the entity of anomalies, such as leaks, illegal branches, partial blockages, and negligently partially closed in-line valves. To improve the precision of localization of anomalies, arrival times of pressure waves are detected by means of wavelet analysis. Simple relations based on the water hammer theory are proposed to evaluate the entity of the anomalies.