ultrasonic gas leak detection

EVERY LIFE HAS A PURPOSE…

Ultrasonic™ Gas Leak Detection Ultrasonic™ Gas Leak Detection


Increase detection reliability and reduce risk as ultrasonic gas leak detection provides instant and verifiable detection of gas leaks. The ultrasonic technology will detect pressurised gas leaks instantly regardless of gas dilution and ever changing weather conditions found on most on- and offshore installations in the petrochemical industry.

Ultrasonic Gas Leak DetectionUltrasonic Gas Leak Detection

Application AreaApplication Area

Applications for Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors: Instant detection of flammable gas leaks Fixed installations Explosion hazardous areas Pressurized gas installations Outdoor or semi outdoor ventilated areas Electrical connection to DCS system

or fire and gas panel

WHAT is Relevant to Detect?In plant installations with pressurized flammable gases, it is relevant to detect gas leaks that can accumulate into a potentially explosive gas cloud.

WHEN is it Relevant to Detect?As fast as possible - to prevent build-up of dangerous concentrations. Accumulation of gas can lead to explosions.


Three main factors determine if a hydrocarbon gas leak can create a catastrophic explosion:

1) Oxygen

2) Ignition Source

3) Gas Concentration

The amount of gas released over time from a gas leak is known as the LEAK RATE and has units of kg/s.

What Creates an Explosion?What Creates an Explosion?

Important Parameters to Know in a Gas Leak Detection Situation:

Leak rate (kg/s):Leak rate (kg/s):Detection related to the leak rate, makes it possible to introduce a performance standard for the gas leak detection system. Example: Gas leaks with a leak rate of 0.1 kg/s or more must be detected.

Lower Explosive Level (% LEL):Lower Explosive Level (% LEL):A concentration measurement in a pre-defined point that may create a true picture of the nature of the gas leak.

Leak Rate vs. LELLeak Rate vs. LEL

Live Gas Leak Test on a North Sea Off-Shore Installation:

Within 4-5 meters the gas concentration around the leak was below 5% LEL!

None of the existing gas detection systems alarmed!

The ultrasonic gas leak detector detected the leak up to 19 meters away!

Leak size: 3 mm Gas pressure: 55 bar (808 psi) Leak rate: 0.06 kg/s

Real Gas Leak Test with Ultrasonic DetectorsReal Gas Leak Test with Ultrasonic Detectors

Main Characteristics: Instant acoustic

gas leak detection Detects gas leaks

at a leak rate of 0.1 kg/s Detection radius up to

20 meters away Unaffected by changing wind

direction and fast dilution of gas Minimal maintenance and

calibration requirements


Acoustics and Gas LeaksAcoustics and Gas Leaks

Gas molecules travel from high pressure to low pressure

Hissing sound

Acceleration of gas produces “white noise,” which consists of both audible and ultrasonic sound components

Acoustic detectors filter the audible range – responding to sound in frequencies from 25 kHz to approximately 50 kHz – far higher than frequencies human hearing can detect

Ultrasonic leak noise is proportional to the leak rate

The detection range of an ultrasonic gas leak detector depends on these variables:

• Leak size

• Pressure

• Ultrasonic background noise

Leak size and gas pressure determine the acoustical ultrasonic noise level generated from the leak.

Leak Detection RangeLeak Detection Range

Directional CharacteristicsDirectional Characteristics

LimitationsLimitations

Traditional Technologies Can Be Problematic– Changing wind directions– Gas dilution– Direction of the leak

Acoustic Technology Limitations– Low pressure (normal application of 10 bar and higher)– High background noise ( > 90 dB) – although rare

UltraSonic EX-5 Gas Leak DetectorUltraSonic EX-5 Gas Leak Detector

Main Features: Senssonic™ integrated acoustic self-test Standard 4-20 mA analog output RS 485 serial digital communication interface Explosion-proof housing in solid 316L stainless

steel for extreme environmental conditions Minimal calibration and regular maintenance Robust microphone technology to ensure long MTBF FM, CSA, C-UL, ATEX, IECEx, GOST certified

for hazardous areas

UltraSonic EX-5- Test Transducer

How to Ensure Failsafe Operation?How to Ensure Failsafe Operation?

Senssonic™ Built-In acoustic Integrity Test External loop configuration Controlled functionality and integrity test every 15 minutes No un-revealed failures between inspections 4-20 mA signal indicates any abnormalities (to 1 mA for 5s)

Installation PracticeInstallation Practice

Allocation of Ultrasonic Detectors Based On:

– Plant details and layout

– Ultrasonic background noise mapping survey

Installation of Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detectors

System Commissioning, Performance Verification

– Test with portable test and calibration unit

– Actual leak simulation with nitrogen

Background noise mapping and detectors allocation

Installation on Existing InstallationsInstallation on Existing Installations

New Installations - AllocationNew Installations - Allocation Detectors installed at elevated position (approx. 2 m above potential

leak sources) with the sensor head facing down. Avoid solid decks or big vessels blocking path between leak spots and

detector. Heavy piping does not block the sound to the detector.

Commissioning, Testing, CalibrationCommissioning, Testing, Calibration

Commissioning: – 1701 Portable Test and Calibration Unit – Live leak simulation of 0.1 kg/s gas leaks

(using nitrogen gas)

Testing and Calibration: – 1701 – Traceable, calibrated test and calibration unit

Gain test and field calibration if required (every 6-12 months)

Typical ApplicationsTypical Applications Offshore oil and gas platforms Onshore oil and gas terminals Floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSOs) Gas compressor and metering stations Underground gas storage facilities Downstream chemical processing plants

(e.g. ethylene, methanol, ammonia, and propylene) Hydrogen storage facilities Refineries LNG/GTL trains (plants) LNG re-gasification plants Gas turbine power plants

Installations WorldwideInstallations Worldwide

Most Major End-Users in Oil & Gas are Implementing UltraSonic Detectors for Projects Worldwide

North Sea: England, Denmark, Holland, Norway (Sleipner, Gullfaks)

The Americas: USA, Canada, Trinidad & Tobago (Cannonball) Middle East: UAE, Oman (Saih Rawl, Saih Nihyada, Al-Kawther,

Harweel) Far East/Central Asia: China (Bohai Bay), Malaysia (Shell Bintulu),

Pakistan (Rehmat), Indonesia (Tangguh) Africa: Equatorial Guinea (Marathon ALBA), Algeria (Hassi Berkine)

Caspian Sea Region: Azerbaijan (Shah Deniz), Russia (Sakhalin II), Kazakhstan (Kashagan)

For more information, visit our website For more information, visit our website www.msanet.comwww.msanet.com

ConclusionsConclusions

Why Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection? Reduce risk Instant and reliable detection Unaffected by changing weather conditions Possible to pre-define safety standards and

verify system performance No undetected failures: Built-in self-test function Cost effective – reduced total cost of ownership


UltraSonic™ EX-5 Gas Leak Detection

UltraSonic™ EX-5 Gas Leak Detection


ultrasonic gas leak detection

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