Locating leaks using ultrasonic testing
How to detect a single leak in a water circuit consisting of
hundreds of pipes? Laborelec was able to locate just such
a leak in less than two hours using its portable ultrasonic
testing (UT) device. Without having to shut down normal
operations.
A power plant water circuit was leaking more than 30 litres of water
per hour. Temperature measurements enabled the operator to rule out
leaks in some of the pipes. Still, the defect was not found even after
a careful visual inspection of the entire circuit. In the meanwhile, the
leakage rate had risen to 145 litres per hour. The operator contacted
Laborelec to quickly locate the problem.
Quick detection without interrupting operations
“Our portable UT device enables us to determine the water level inside
a pipe, without having to open it. By holding the probe against the
exterior of the pipe, we can determine if the pipe is empty or full
or even the precise fluid level inside,” explains Alain Braeckman.
“We were able to track down the leak in less than two hours, without
interrupting operations. This non-destructive technique proved to be
the most economical and effective solution for this specific situation.” |
