Fully self-powered pipeline leakage detection and localization enabled by triboelectric nanogenerator

Abstract

An accurate and reliable leakage detection and localization system is essential for reducing resource waste and potentially hazardous incidents caused by leaks in industrial transportation pipelines. However, existing technologies often entail high implementation costs and reliance on external power sources, limiting their widespread industrial adoption. Here, we propose a cost-efficient, battery-free pipeline leakage detection device comprising a vibration-driven triboelectric nanogenerator (VD-TENG), an energy storage/release management circuit (EMC), and a wireless transmission module. The VD-TENG effectively harvests micro-vibrations from pipeline leaks into electricity, converting them into periodic pulse signals on the user interface via the EMC and wireless module, with the signal frequency determined by the vibration amplitude. The system accumulates a minimum electrical energy of 4.5 mJ to emit a pulse signal and demonstrates excellent stability. Ultimately, multiple integrated devices are uniformly deployed across the pipeline surface, forming a comprehensive sensing network. By leveraging the vibration attenuation characteristics along the pipeline, the leakage location can be accurately identified through analyzing the signal frequency relation among the devices. This work offers an alternative solution to the challenges in industrial pipeline leakage detection and location.