Comparison of two theoretical models for electric leak location at landfill

Abstract

To solve the disability of conventional model used in electrical leak location when measurement electrodes were buried under the liner, a new model of high voltage DC leak detection is developed. For single-liner landfill, the waste material layer, the geomembrane liner and the soil under the liner are simulated with infinite horizontal layers. The leak is regarded as two parts, one being negative current source at the entrance, and the other positive current source of the same size at the exit. Comparisons between the new theoretical model and conventional model show that conventional model is efficient in locating leaks in geomembane liner associating the dipole scanning above the liner but is ineffective when the measurement electrodes were buried under the liner. The new theoretical model data are in excellent agreement with experimental data not only above the liner but also under the liner.