Leak Testing (LT)

As required by applicable standards and procedures, EIWAA can carry out the different kinds of leak testing on new components, or it can work with a customer to find leaks in their operating systems and existing assets. The minimal standards for the acoustic emission method for the leak detection of liquid-filled buried pipes are established by the leak testing procedure.

The techniques described in this approach can be used successfully to conduct particular tests on HDPE or resincoated pipes that are buried up to 3 meters below the surface and covered with loose sand, asphalt, interlock, or concrete.

Without excavating the areas, leak detection is possible under liquidfilled conditions with a minimum 2 bar liquid flow pressure and by using an acoustic emission scanner (AET Scanner) with a trasducer.In industrial sites, refineries, power plants, and generally everywhere there are moving or stored liquids or gases, excessive fluid losses caused by leaks are one of the main concerns, with occasionally severe environmental and economic repercussions. Non-destructive leak testing examines liquid or gas leaks in evacuated or pressurized parts or systems that occur as a result of pressure differences.

For finding these leaks, acoustic emission (AE) is frequently used. Both sonic and ultrasonic energy waves are produced by the turbulence that results from the flow of a pressured fluid through an opening. By observing the amplitude variations of a continuous signal at several points along the pipe, a crude estimation of the leak location can be formed. An amplitude variation ratio is recorded based on signal loss (known or measured independently on the pipe itself) and signal amplitude reduction with distance from the source (leak), as measured at various places. The distance to the source can be roughly approximated based on this ratio. However, linear geolocation is a more efficient and precise technique to find a leak on an underground pipe.