HeliTec® Leak Detection Service
| Detecting leaks in buried pipes is safer, faster and more accurate when helium is used as a tracer in nitrogen. The HeliTec® Leak Detection Service, quickly locates leaks in buried pipelines. The method uses a helium tracer in a gas, usually nitrogen, and a sensitive helium detector. |  |
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The normal fluid is removed from the line, the line is pressurized with the test gas, then the helium detector is used to sense the presence of helium in the air above the line.
The HeliTec service, provided by our wholly owned subsidiary, Praxair Services, Inc. offers a number of advantages:
Reduced Emissions
Once a leak is suspected, the normal pipeline fluid is removed and the leak testing is conducted using inert, non toxic gases. This method prevents continued releases of emissions into the environment.
Improved Safety
The HeliTec service offers safety improvements over methods that utilize the normal pipeline fluid. When dealing with toxic, flammable or hazardous materials, even small leaks create a potentially hazardous situation.
Fast and Accurate
The HeliTec service uses a helium detector which is very sensitive to and selective for helium. Some other methods use tracers and detectors that can be fooled by substances other than the tracer. If our detector indicates a helium concentration, we are confident it is helium and it is coming from the underground line.
The concept of using a helium tracer and a helium detector to sniff the ground's surface above an underground line is well established. Previous systems have been limited by the limitations of mass spectrometers (the most commonly used helium detector). Historically, mass spectrometers are laboratory instruments which have recently been adapted to portable use. Even in their portable form they require 110VAC power, are bulky and can suffer reliability problems in a field environment. The problem has been addressed by utilizing a self contained, portable unit which weighs less than ten pounds. This unit is designed to have the same sensitivity and selectivity as a mass spectrometer in pressure sniffing applications.
