Pipeline gas can consist of various renewable and non-renewable gases. There has been a massive uptake in natural gas consumption, and an increasing need for leak detection systems. The reliable and timely detection of gas leaks is critical to ensure the reliability of the natural gas infrastructure.

Some pipelines transport 100% hydrogen while others a blend with natural gas. CO₂ can be transported as gas, liquid or in supercritical state. Therefore, the leak detection system needs to be able to work with these different mixtures and phases.

This is a problem for traditional leak detection systems. Negative pressure wave leak detection systems are affected due to damping in gas. Classical statistical systems are affected due to compressibility and linepack changes. This leads to long detection times or high thresholds. The systems react with a loss of sensitivity or, in the worst case, with false alarms.

Real-time transient model (RTTM) based systems try to consider all the different products and pipeline properties in its calculations. However there will be false results if the fluid cannot be accurately modelled by the system.

PipePatrol – E-RTTM

KROHNE’s PipePatrol uses extended real-time transient model (E-RTTM) technology that has signature analysis technology to make the system less sensitive against inaccuracies in RTTM calculations. Therfore, it can cope with challenging pipeline conditions and product parameters or mixtures like hydrogen blends.

On another project in Australia, PipePatrol was used on a 7 km long pipeline that transports CO₂ from the LNG liquefaction plant to the CO₂ injection wells. This involved unique conditions, such as the properties of CO₂ in a supercritical phase and flow measurements done by orifice plates with limited rangeability. Here, PipePatrol provides timely and accurate leak information for the pipeline segments between the LNG plant and drill centres.

KROHNE – a manufacturer of measuring technology and established supplier of systems to the pipeline industry – has more than 35 years of experience in leak detection and localisation systems.