This paper proposes a new approach based on the frequency response for fault identification in pipelines. The method focuses on extended blockage detection and location, and a case of simultaneous punctual blockage and leak identification. The proposed approach is based on a frequency modeling of pipeline dynamics including the effect of faults under study, by means of transfer matrix representation, and a related optimization: using measurements at both ends of the pipeline, together with an appropriate excitation, the parameters of the faults are directly identified from the frequency response. This methodology is shown to be very efficient based on the simulation results, even in the presence of additive measurement noise.

This work addresses the problem of High-Gain Observer design for a class of quasi-linear hyperbolic systems (with one characteristic velocity), possibly including nonlocal terms, making them systems of Partial Integro-Differential Equations. The design relies on distributed measurement of a part of the state vector. The observer is presented and discussed and the exponential stability in the $C^1$ -norm of the origin for the error system is fully established via Lyapunov-based analysis. Its use is illustrated via an application to an age-dependent SIR epidemic model.

This paper presents a leak isolation methodology using a fitting loss coefficient calibration. Two stages are considered for this purpose: First, the equivalent straight length (ESL) is fixed by an model‐base observer designed as an extended Kalman filter. Once the leak is detected, the previous observer is stopped and the second system, based on an algebraic observer, is started with the ESL value fixed by the previous observer. Finally, the estimated leak position is recovered in original coordinates since the observer deal with ESL coordinates. In order to tackle the friction variations problem, the so‐called Swamee‐Jain equation is embedded explicitly, instead of a constant parameter as in other studies. The approach assumes only flow and pressure sensors at the ends of the duct. Experimental results with data obtained from a plastic pipeline prototype are presented to assess the method efficiency.

This work presents the modeling and simulation of a hydraulic network with four nodes and two branches that form a two-level water distribution system. It also proposes a distribution of hydraulic valves that allows emulating a leak using a valve and different network configurations, e.g., simple ducts, closed networks and branched networks. The network is modeled in the steady state considering turbulent flow. Numerical experiments are performed, and the results show that the proposed network is useful for the design of leakage diagnosis and control algorithms in different configurations and leakage scenarios.