Electrical leak location method for double-lined landfills

Abstract

The electrical landfill leakage detection method detects and locates leaks in geomembrane liners by measuring the potential distribution above or under the liner. For double-lined landfills, the detecting electrodes are usually arranged between the two liners (detection layer). A detection model for double-lined landfills was set up in this paper. The current flowing through the leak and the returned current in the power supply electrode in the detection layer were regarded as two current point sources with opposite polarity. The total potential was obtained by the superposition of potentials produced by the two current point sources. the analysis of potential equation show that: 1) the potential distribution is almost independent of the position of survey lines; 2) when the detection layer is thinner, the potential increases obviously for constant detecting current; 3) a slight increase of potential relative to the same reference electrode is gained when the distance of power supply electrode become farther.