Chemical facility maintenance requires navigating complex systems involving diverse gases, steam, and vacuum. Challenges such as corrosion, pipe embrittlement, or the high-pressure storage of gases necessitate fast and accurate leak detection to ensure safety and reduce downtime.
Traditional leak detection methods (soap sprays, sniffers, helium tests) are widely used but often lack the speed, precision, and adaptability needed for the dynamic conditions of chemical plants. For example, hydrogen facilities often use fixed sensors to detect leaks, but this contact-based method risks missing leaks and fails to pinpoint their exact location, posing significant safety risks.
In the past 10 years, ultrasound cameras have emerged as an innovative alternative. They detect leaks by capturing the ultrasounds they emit, not the gas itself, and triangulate the emission location. This approach enables for faster, non-contact, and precise pinpointing of gas leaks.
Ultrasound cameras function on any gas type, from hydrogen and noble gases to air, methane, steam, but also vacuum leaks. Their ability to filter out background noise makes them effective in noisy or outdoor conditions. Some models also quantify leak rates in real time, enabling classification by severity or cost to prioritize maintenance.
This presentation will show how ultrasound cameras are transforming chemical plant maintenance, with case studies from Arkema, BASF, and Air Liquide, highlighting enhanced safety and productivity.
