What is a Leak Detection System?
Leak detection is a method in which the existence of a leak within a system is determined. The techniques are utilized across a wide range of systems where a container must seal in some material.
Different leak detection methods have been applied to monitor the integrity of a pipeline in last several decades. The leak detection systems are varied and uniquely applicable to specific pipeline applications. However, leak detection technologies can be classified according to the physical principles involved in the leak detection. The leak detection technologies can be classified into three groups: biological methods, hardware-based methods, and software-based methods.
The leak detection methods may also be divided into two categories, external-based detection systems and internal-based detection systems.
External leak detection systems include :
• Vacuum annulus monitoring.
• Hydrocarbon vapor sensing systems.
• Distributed temperature sensing (DTS) fiber optic cable systems.
• Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) fiber optic cable systems.
• Distributed strain sensing (DSS) fiber optic cable monitoring systems.
Internal leak detection systems include :
• Mass balance with line pack compensation.
• Pressure trend monitoring.
• Real-time transient monitoring.
• Pressure safety low (PSL).
• Periodic shut-in pressure tests.
• Pressure wave and acoustic wave monitoring.
FAQ's
Pipeline leak detection is used to determine if and in some cases where a leak has occurred in systems which contain liquids and gases. This system uses a series of sensors to track data such as pressure, flow rates, temperature, and whether valves are open or closed.
The most commonly used leak test methods are underwater bubble test, bubble soap paint, pressure and vacuum decay, and tracer gas detectors (halogen, helium and hydrogen).