Apparatus and method for the location of leaks by arrayed potentials and derived vectors

A system for leak detection in an impoundment comprising:

• a first impoundment layer containing a brine solution;
• a second impoundment layer positioned beneath said first impoundment layer, said first and second impoundment layers defining a brine-filled space therebetween;
• a first electrode positioned in said brine-filled space;
• an injection electrode positioned in said brine solution on said first impoundment layer;
• a plurality of sensor elements extending outwardly from said injection electrode, said sensor elements for sensing electrical potentials at points distal to said injection electrode;
• a power source electrically connected to said first electrode and said injection electrode, said power source for passing a current to said injection electrode, said current passing between said injection electrode and said first electrode through a leak in said first impoundment layer;
• and
• a probe assembly connected to and supporting said injection electrode and said plurality of sensor elements in said brine solution, said probe assembly comprising:
• a boom extending upwardly from said injection electrode, said sensor elements extending outwardly from said boom adjacent said injection electrode;
• and
• a platform connected to said boom, said platform floating on said brine solution.

A method of detecting and locating leaks in an impoundment comprising the steps of:

• positioning a first electrode in a brine-filled space between a first impoundment layer and a second impoundment layer;
• positioning an injection electrode in a brine solution on said first impoundment layer;
• arranging a plurality of sensor elements outwardly from said injection electrode, said sensor elements for sensing electrical potential;
• passing a voltage to said injection electrode such that a current passes through a leak in said first impoundment to said first electrode;
• measuring the electrical potential with said sensor elements a distance from said injection electrode;
• processing the electrical potential of each of said sensor elements so as to produce a position vector as to a location of the leak relative to said injection electrode;
• repositioning said injection electrode and said sensing elements within said brine solution on said first impoundment layer;
• passing a voltage to the repositioned injection electrode such that current flows through a leak toward said first electrode;
• measuring the electrical potential of each of said sensor elements;
• and
• processing the electrical potentials of the repositioned injection electrode and sensor elements so as to produce a derived vector of leak location;
• comparing the derived vector of leak location of the repositioned injection electrode with the position vector of leak location so as to determine the existence of multiple leaks;
• and
• iterrating the derived vectors so as to produce multiple vectors indicative of a position of such multiple leaks.