Free flowing robot for automatic pipeline leak detection using piezoelectric film sensors

Pipeline transportation of fluid is controlled by many laws to avoid failure and therefore serious disasters. This paper presents a cost optimum solution to small leaks in pipelines through the use of an array of piezoelectric film sensors embedded in a mobile robot. It´s common in the industry to use an automatic system, which is installed at all joints along the pipeline, to detect a large leak and send its location wirelessly to the main controller. From time to time, the new robot is passed through the pipeline to detect small leakage precisely before detrimental corrosion and then major failure occurs.