Fugitive emissions describe the unintentional and irregular release of an uncontrolled gas or vapour into the atmosphere as a consequence of the use of industrial equipment, infrastructure and processes. An example of a fugitive emission in the biogas industry could be a leak from pipes, valves or digestate storage tanks.
Continuous, unidentified leaks can drain your organisation’s resources without the business realising it and without producing any useful by-product. Even relatively small leaks can result in wasted energy, increased operating costs and unnecessary emissions.
Common leak sources across many industries include:
- Valve stems
- Accumulators
- Pipe flanges
- Gaskets
- Pumps
- Compressors
What is the Distran Ultra Pro Max?
The Ultra Pro Max is a high-performance acoustic imaging camera used in industrial plants to detect, locate and quantify compressed gas, steam and vacuum leaks in real time. The camera has been designed to provide effective leak detection across a range of industrial environments.
Specifications
Minimum working distance of the Ultra Pro Max – 30 cm (1 ft)
Detection capabilities – 0.15 L/h at 30 cm
0.2 L/h at 1 m
9 L/h at 10 mWeight – 1.5 kg
Battery life – Up to 5 hours
ATEX, IECEx, UL/CSA and KOSHA certifications
IP rating – IP54 (ATEX version)
Operating temperature – -20°C to +50°C
Detection performance figures are based on a 1.5 bar gas leak in a quiet environment.
How Does It Work?
The Ultra Pro Max combines a 180-degree acoustic field of view with a 150-degree optical angle and 4.3× optical zoom. This allows operators to inspect large and complex areas from a single vantage point. The wide acoustic field of view can also help identify leaks located to the side of the camera that may not be immediately visible through the optical image.
Inside the detector, a 124-element ultrasound sensor array listens for and detects the high-frequency sounds produced by escaping gases. These high-frequency sounds are above the range of human hearing and are detected by the sensors before being superimposed onto a colour map on the screen, allowing operators to visualise where the leak is located in real time. The acoustic image is blended with the optical image, making the detection and location of leaks clear and straightforward.
The device uses DeepRange™ technology to help filter out loud industrial background noise, allowing the detector to focus on the high-frequency acoustic signals associated with escaping gases.
The findings can then be recorded and exported using the camera’s reporting and data-management capabilities, including SD card storage and Audalytics. This allows customers to access and document the results efficiently, helping leaks to be identified and addressed without having to wait for lengthy manual reporting processes.
Why Should You Choose the Distran Ultra Pro Max?
Traditional Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras are designed to detect specific gases or groups of gases that can be identified within their infrared detection range. This means they may not be suitable for detecting gases such as nitrogen or compressed air. The Ultra Pro Max uses acoustic imaging instead, allowing it to detect a wide range of pressurised gases, as well as vacuum and steam leaks.
Chemical sniffer methods can require an operator to physically investigate potential leak locations using a probe. The Distran camera uses a remote, point-and-shoot approach, allowing personnel to identify potential leaks from a distance without needing to physically access every potential leak point.
Finally, using the Ultra Pro Max can increase operational safety because its optical zoom and remote detection capabilities allow operators to inspect potential leaks from further away. This can help reduce the need to approach potentially hazardous areas when carrying out leak surveys.
What Industries Can Use the Ultra Pro Max?
The device is designed to be intuitive to operate, allowing inspection teams to incorporate it into their existing leak-detection processes. The device is suitable for many industries that deal with pressurised gases, vacuum systems and steam. These industries may include:
- Oil & Gas
- Biogas
- Power generation
- Aerospace
FAQ
Q: What does the Distran Ultra Pro Max actually detect?
It detects gas leaks by picking up the ultrasonic sound produced when gas escapes under pressure. These frequencies are above the range of human hearing, meaning the camera can identify leaks that may be invisible and inaudible to a person standing nearby.
Q: Does the plant need to shut down to use it?
No – this is one of its main advantages. Because the Ultra Pro Max can detect leaks remotely and does not require physical contact with the leak source, sites can carry out leak surveys while equipment is operating, helping to reduce the need for planned downtime.
Q: Is this new or proven technology?
Ultrasonic leak detection is not a new technology. Acoustic leak detection has been used across industrial applications for many years, and Distran’s technology has also been used by NASA to help locate air leaks on the International Space Station. Distran, the Swiss manufacturer of the Ultra Pro Max, has developed this technology into a handheld industrial acoustic imaging camera.
