Refrigerant leakage localization in copper pipeline utilizing count-duration features of acoustic emission technique.

Leakage detection in pipelines, particularly those transporting refrigerants like R-410A through copper pipes, is critical for maintaining system efficiency and preventing environmental hazards. This study introduces a novel leakage detection and localization method using a single Acoustic Emission (AE) sensor combined with exponential curve fitting to estimate leak locations. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on multiple sensors, this method uses a single sensor but collects data from multiple monitoring points along the pipeline, ensuring high accuracy in leak localization. Although multiple monitoring points are required, this method significantly reduces sensor movement, limiting it to only a few centimeters, which reduces operational complexity and inconvenience. The proposed Count-Duration Ratio parameter enables precise leakage localization, with experimental results showing a maximum error of only 136 mm. The study consists of two stages: threshold calibration to optimize signal detection parameters, followed by an experimental evaluation on a 15-meter copper pipeline to assess the method’s performance across various pipe diameters. The results demonstrate the method’s versatility and effectiveness for copper pipelines, showing promise for enhancing air conditioning system monitoring and maintenance practices in various industries.