Real-time leak location system for geomembrane liners

Abstract

To prevent leachates from polluting the surrounding environment, geomembrane liners are often installed at municipal solid waste landfills. High voltage electrical technique can inspect 100% of the geomembrane material to detect and locate leaks. An improved electrical method is put forward in this paper. Some detecting electrodes are planted in the soil under the liner in advance. A voltage impressed across the liner produces a uniform voltage potential distribution in the soil under the liner when no leaks are present. If leaks are present, they will provide conductive paths for current flow. The current flowing through the leak causes an anomaly in the measured potential near the leak. Therefore, leaks can be located by measuring the potential distribution patterns in the detecting electrodes under the liner. Experimental data show that the leak can be accurately located when the leak current is 80 mA and the electrode spacing is 2 meters. This system can realize real-time detection during the operating time.