The Monitor - Understanding Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection

Feature Article:.

Understanding Ultrasonic Gas Detection
By Edward Naranjo
Product Manager, General Monitors

General Monitors is pleased to welcome the addition of Gassonic A/S (Ballerup, Denmark), a worldwide leader in the manufacture of fixed ultrasonic gas leak detectors, to the General Monitors family of companies. Gassonic was the first company to develop an ultrasonic gas leak detector and has over ten years experience in both offshore and onshore installations. Through the acquisition of Gassonic, we are now able to offer our customers an even broader array of integrated gas detection technologies to meet specific process safety monitoring requirements. The application of ultrasonic sensing complements our existing catalytic bead, infrared point, and open path gas monitoring solutions that help protect people, equipment, and plants worldwide.

Acoustic monitoring techniques use ultrasonic sensors to detect leaks based on changes in the background noise pattern. These sensors respond to the sound generated by escaping gas at ultrasonic frequencies. The ultrasonic sound level is directly proportional to the mass flow rate (leak rate) at a given distance. The leak rate, in turn, is mainly dependent on the size of the leak and the gas pressure.

What makes airborne ultrasound effective at detecting escaping gas? Most gas leaks – as well as operating mechanical equipment and electrical emissions – produce a broad range of sound that span from the audible to the ultrasonic range (approx. 20 Hz–10 MHz). The ultrasonic range itself extends from 25 kHz to 10 MHz.

Learn more about ultrasonic gas leak detection