Comparison of two electrode arrays for liner leakage location at landfills

High voltage direct current electrical method is very effective in landfill leakage detection and location by measuring the potential distribution patterns in the material under the liner. Different effects of two kinds of detecting electrode laying modes, namely, the honeycomb and the grid, on leak location are compared in a little simulative single-liner landfill. Two algorithms are respectively applied to the two kinds of detecting electrode laying modes to calculate leak location. The location errors are compared. The results show that: (1) when the electrode spacing is 1 meter, the leak location error of the honeycomb is 53 percent of the grid´s, but the electrode number has an increase of 13 percent, (2) the first algorithm brings small location error and little fluctuation, (3) when the electrode spacing is 1 meter and the return current is 100mA, the location error of the honeycomb would be less than 15 cm.