Patent ID: 6331778
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: G01M,G01N

Abstract:
A method for detecting and locating leaks in a facility having a lined container containing liquids, sludges, or soils, using an excitation of the mass electrical resistivity technique and an electrode array having a multiplicity of electrodes, the lined container positioned within an external media, the method comprising the steps of:placing the multiplicity of electrodes of the electrode array at fixed points outside of the lined facility within the external media;placing an injection electrode pair at fixed points outside of the lined facility within the external media, wherein a majority of the electrodes of the electrode array are excluded from the space between the electrodes of the injection electrode pair;injecting a current into said external media using said fixed injection electrode pair to establish said excitation of the mass; andtaking a set of electrical measurements from the electrodes of the electrode array and analyzing the electrical measurements for characteristic leak signals.