NewTek Deploys LVDT Sensors to Enhance Pipeline Safety and Asset Integrity
NewTek Sensor Solutions is expanding the use of its LVDT position sensors in pipeline monitoring systems, helping operators detect vibration, deformation, and structural shifts in oil and gas, water, and chemical pipelines to improve safety, reliability, and asset integrity.
Linear Variable Differential Transformers (LVDTs) are being increasingly incorporated into pipeline monitoring systems as operators seek higher-resolution tools for detecting structural movement, vibration, and long-term mechanical stress across oil and gas, water, and chemical pipeline networks.
According to NewTek Sensor Solutions, LVDT-based position sensors are being applied to measure small but critical changes in pipeline geometry, including elongation, bending, support movement, and vibration caused by thermal expansion, pressure cycling, soil movement, and equipment-induced loads. Unlike contact-based or friction-dependent sensors, LVDTs measure linear displacement without mechanical wear, enabling consistent performance in dynamic operating environments.
Pipeline vibration and transient movement—often generated by pumps, compressors, fluid flow, or external environmental factors—can contribute to fatigue damage over time. LVDTs allow operators to monitor these conditions continuously, capturing high-frequency or subtle motion that may not be detected through periodic inspection programs. This capability supports earlier identification of abnormal operating conditions that could lead to integrity concerns if left unaddressed.
The sensors are also being used to detect gradual structural shifts associated with ground movement, settlement, or thermal cycling. By providing high-resolution displacement data at supports, joints, and critical stress points, LVDTs can help operators identify emerging risks before they develop into leaks or unplanned outages. In integrity management programs, this data can be integrated into event detection systems that trigger alerts or targeted inspections when predefined thresholds are exceeded.
As pipeline operators place greater emphasis on predictive maintenance and real-time condition monitoring—particularly for aging infrastructure and remote assets—displacement and vibration measurement technologies such as LVDTs are increasingly being evaluated as part of broader asset integrity and risk management strategies.