Industrial Systems Leak More Than Just Fluids...They Leak Money!

This is why in any industrial system, leaks of any kind—oil, hydraulics, refrigerant, gasoline, diesel fuel, water or compressed air or compressed gas of any kind —is a source of major concern.

Do this simple math! There are 86,400 seconds in a day; 31,536,000 seconds in a year. If there is a leak at the rate of 1 drip every 5 seconds, this means 6,307,200 drips per year!

Left undetected, these leaks will take a huge bite out of your profits. Plus they lead to equipment breakdown, accidents and environmental damage. Unrepaired leaks disrupt production operations and increase equipment downtime. Also, leaks may lead to severe penalties for violation of tough environmental standards imposed by both local and national governments. These and other factors make the need to find an effective, economical and efficient leak detection method all the more important and urgent.

Current Leak Detection Methods - How Effective Are They?

There are many leak detection methods, including visual inspection, bubble solutions, ultrasonic detectors, halide torches, and infrared and electronic leak detectors. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. One significant disadvantage is that while all of these methods may find some of the leaks, they are not effective in finding all leaks. Another disadvantage is that it is hard to locate the leaks unless you are very close to the suspect leak site. Now, there is a new and revolutionary way to detect leaks that beats all other methods when it comes to effectiveness, cost and durability.

Spectroline^® Fluorescent Leak Detection – a Revolutionary Solution!

Many large industrial systems have hundreds of possible leak sites, including dozens of valves and fittings. Spectroline^® fluorescent leak detection works effectively in any enclosed circulatory system where fluids are used for lubrication, hydraulics, cooling control or hydrostatic pressure testing. Fluorescent dyes also can reveal leaks in static systems that can be pressurized or agitated.

In terms of cost, ease of use and effectiveness, Spectroline^® fluorescent leak detection is the best of all available methods. It is the easiest, quickest and most effective way to pinpoint the exact location of each and every leak, the first time, every time. It is also the only method that allows inspection of an entire system under virtually all conditions.

Advantages of Using High-Performance Spectroline^® Fluorescent Dyes

Spectroline® fluorescent dyes are safe, economical and highly effective in detecting even the smallest leaks in any system, large or small. They come in a wide variety of dye formulations, including custom blends, to match each specific application. This means that they can work with any host fluid without damaging the fluid’s properties or any of the system’s components.

OIL-GLO™ oil dyes are available for industrial oil or hydraulic systems and are extremely effective in detecting even pinhole-sized leaks in gaskets, seals, O-rings and pipelines. GAS-GLO™ fuel dyes are perfect for pinpointing gasoline and diesel fuel leaks in storage tanks, fuel lines and fuel injector lines. WD-801, -802 and -803 water dyes can be used for static and/or circulatory testing of water leaks in large-volume systems, such as the cooling pipes in nuclear energy plants, condensers in power plants and water storage tanks. Also available are other dye formulations specially designed for use with offset printing presses, milling machines, locomotive engine-oil coolers and oil-cooled chillers.

For detecting air-conditioning and refrigeration leaks, Spectroline^® offers solvent-free AR-GLO^® fluorescent dyes that work with all commonly used refrigerants.

Specialized Diagnostic Tools

The COBRA™ (CB-1000) and COBRA-4™ (CB-400) multi-purpose borescopes are perfect for refrigerant and fluid leak detection, diagnosing blocked evaporator coils, boiler inspections, and detecting cracks and wear in heat exchanges and other components. Both are ideal for getting into and viewing inaccessible and “hidden” areas. Check ductwork for clearance and integrity, do behind-the-wall moisture and insect investigations and much more. These tools can easily snake past bends and obstructions to give you a crystal clear view of what you are looking for, without costly and time-consuming disassembly.

The COBRA™ features both a UV LED for detecting both surface flaws and fluid leaks, and a white LED for component inspection. In addition, the COBRA™ has a 10mm diameter flexible, 24-inch long,“no-droop” cable for exceptional maneuverability -- to reach those “hard to reach” spaces.

The COBRA-4™ features detachable dual-head flashlight with super-bright blue and white light LEDs. Ideal for both leak detection and internal component inspection. Designed for specialized applications that require extended reach or viewing
into deep recesses; slides easily into inaccessible areas!

The Marksman™ Ultrasonic Diagnostic Tool (MDE-1000) converts and amplifies inaudible ultrasonic sounds into audible “natural” sound for accurate diagnosis. Locates problems in systems and various components before they result in major breakdowns. Quickly detects compressed air, natural gas, propane tank, vacuum, refrigerant, steam and other pressurized leaks. Pinpoints gear and bearing wear in internal components and electric motors; checks for electrical discharge associated with Insulation breakdown, carbon tracking and arching. Also excellent for detecting irregular fluid turbulence due to restrictions in pipes and hydraulic lines and finding air and water leaks that pass by faulty seals, gaskets and weather stripping, ductwork and other non-pressurized enclosures.