Selection and Use of Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors

摘要

Combustible gas detectors often constitute the first line of defense toward mitigating the risk of fire. Gas detected at the source can be contained to prevent its further spread and avoid explosions. Gas from high-pressure pipes and other pressurized systems pose a particular challenge, since leaks produce highly localized accumulations that quickly dissipate from the core of the jetting gas. Detection methods that rely on the transport of gas to the sensor may fail to respond to leaks if the gas does not reach the sensor in sufficient quantities. Unlike these conventional technologies, ultrasonic gas leak detection does not depend on gas concentration. The operating principle of this type of detection is that the escaping gas from a pressurized vessel generates ultrasound, which can be identified by an acoustic sensor and measured as a leak rate. In this paper, we provide an overview of ultrasonic gas leak detection and its application to industrial safety. A final section provides the reader guidelines for the allocation, commissioning, and maintenance of these instruments.