Gas leak detection with an acoustic camera
Leaking gas costs money – bottled gas, bulk gas and the electricity for a nitrogen generator are paid for regardless. We locate leaks in pressurised gas pipework with an acoustic camera while the system is in use and collect the findings in a report with images.
Measurement work 149 €/h excl. VAT (min. 2 h) · report included · Finland, abroad and ships by arrangement
Which gases and systems do we survey?
An acoustic camera does not identify a gas chemically – it hears it escaping from a gap under pressure. The method therefore works regardless of the gas, as long as the pipework is pressurised. Typical targets include:
- Nitrogen: generators, nitrogen lines and packaging machines
- Argon and argon mixtures: shielding gas lines in welding shops
- Carbon dioxide: beverage and food industry, shielding gases
- Helium and laboratory gases (case by case – light gases are harder to detect)
- Oxygen: surveyed from a distance, pipework is not touched
- Gas manifolds, regulators, hoses and quick couplings
Why look for gas leaks?
A gas leak is money down the drain: shielding gas cylinders and tanks empty faster, nitrogen generators and compressors run longer, and the leak continues at night and at weekends if the line is not shut off. In welding shops a leaking shielding gas line can also reduce gas flow and therefore weld quality.
Leaks of inert gases such as nitrogen, argon and CO2 into confined or poorly ventilated spaces can also displace oxygen. Locating and fixing leaks is therefore also a safety issue.
How does the acoustic camera find it?
When gas escapes under pressure through a small gap, the turbulent flow produces ultrasound. The acoustic camera captures it with a microphone array and shows the leak as a coloured sound map on the camera image. The type of gas does not matter for locating the leak – the pressure difference and the size of the leak do.
The survey is done from a distance, so lines running along the ceiling or on pipe racks are covered without a lift. Leaks are usually located to the individual joint, and if needed the spot is confirmed with leak detection fluid.
How the survey works
Preliminary information and estimate
Tell us about the site, the system, its operating pressure or vacuum and the size of the area. We estimate the survey time and send a cost estimate.
Survey during operation
We walk the system's pipework, joints, hoses, valves and equipment with the acoustic camera. The system must be pressurised or running – there is no need to stop production.
Findings tagged and photographed
Each finding is marked on site with a numbered tag and photographed so that it is easy to find for repair.
Report
You receive a report with the findings on a floor-plan map, an image of each finding, severity 1–3 and a recommended action. The report is included in the price and can be delivered in English or Finnish.
Repair
Repairs can be offered case by case depending on the site – or your own maintenance team can carry them out based on the report. A follow-up survey verifies that the leaks have been fixed.
Who is it for?
Welding shops and engineering workshops
Argon, CO2 and mixed gas lines, gas manifolds and welding station hoses.
Food and beverage industry
CO2 and nitrogen lines, carbonation and modified-atmosphere packaging.
Nitrogen generator users
Laser cutting, packaging and inerting – leaks extend generator running time.
Laboratories and research facilities
Helium, nitrogen and other laboratory gas lines.
Greenhouses
CO2 enrichment distribution lines.
Ships
Nitrogen and CO2 systems outside hazardous areas, by arrangement with the master.
Report
Every survey comes with a report, included in the price. The report follows the same structure as our compressed air leak survey reports and can be delivered in English or Finnish.
- Floor-plan map with numbered markers. Each finding is marked on a plan of the site (or a general arrangement drawing of the vessel). The number matches the tag attached on site.
- Image of each finding. The finding is circled in the acoustic camera image, so whoever does the repair finds it immediately.
- Severity 1–3. 1 = minor, monitor; 2 = moderate, repair as planned; 3 = major or a safety risk, repair immediately.
- Recommended action. What to do at each location and in which order – the most severe first.
The images are from an example compressed air leak survey report (company, images and figures are illustrative). The example PDF is in Finnish – your report can be delivered in English. Reports for other systems have the same structure; for compressed air leaks the estimated cost of the leaks per year is also calculated.
Price
Sites vary a lot, so pricing is based on time spent. Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit – for example the compressed air network, gas lines and a vacuum system.
| Measurement work (minimum 2 h) | 149 €/h |
|---|---|
| Report (English or Finnish) | included |
| Travel in Finland | Zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme, elsewhere in the estimate |
| Outside Finland and on ships | Travel, accommodation and travel time quoted per job |
Prices exclude VAT. VAT is applied according to the applicable rules (for example, the reverse-charge mechanism may apply to VAT-registered business customers in other EU countries) and confirmed in the quote. You receive a cost estimate before ordering.
Leak repairs: in Finland, compressed air leak repairs 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts; other repairs case by case.
Ask whether acoustic imaging suits your site
Tell us about the site and what you want to find out, and we will tell you honestly whether an acoustic camera will help – and if it will not, we will say so.
+358 43 211 0516Cost estimate
Request a cost estimate – gas leaks
Tell us about the site or vessel, its size, the location (country, city or port) and what you want to find. We estimate the survey time and usually send a cost estimate on the same or the next working day.
+358 43 211 0516Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 (Finnish time)
Frequently asked questions
Which gas leaks can an acoustic camera find?
Any leak where pressurised gas escapes through a gap: for example nitrogen, argon and argon mixtures, carbon dioxide, helium and oxygen. The camera hears the leak rather than identifying the gas, so the method works regardless of the gas as long as the line is pressurised.
Do you survey natural gas, biogas or hydrogen pipework?
Not in areas classified as hazardous, because our camera is not Ex certified. At other locations we agree the work separately with the site owner and follow the site's safety instructions. In an acute leak situation, call the emergency number or your gas supplier's emergency line.
Can an acoustic camera be used for a refrigerant leak check?
No. Statutory refrigerant leak checks under the EU F-gas Regulation are carried out by certified personnel using approved methods, such as an electronic leak detector. An acoustic camera can help locate a suspected leak in a pressurised system, but it does not replace the statutory check.
How small a leak can be found?
It depends on the line pressure, the size of the leak and the distance. The greater the pressure difference, the louder the sound. In lines at normal operating pressure we typically find leaks that cannot be heard by ear.
Do you repair the leaks you find?
Repairs can be offered case by case depending on the site, and the price is agreed separately. In Finland, compressed air leak repairs are charged at 86 €/h excl. VAT plus parts. Your own maintenance team or ship's crew can also carry out the repairs based on the report.
How much does an acoustic imaging survey cost?
Measurement work is 149 €/h excl. VAT, minimum 2 hours, and the report is included. In Finland, travel costs are zone-based in Southwest Finland and Kanta-Häme and quoted elsewhere. For assignments outside Finland and on ships, travel, accommodation and travel time are quoted per job before you order.
Acoustic imaging for other systems too
Several systems can be surveyed on the same visit. All acoustic imaging applications · ships and marine
Compressed air leaks
Compressed air leak survey during production: findings with severity and the estimated cost of the leaks per year.Read moreVacuum leaks
Vacuum lines, pumps, suction cups, vacuum tables, packaging machines and vacuum sewage systems.Read moreSteam leaks
Leaks in steam lines, valves, flanges and condensate lines – located from a safe distance.Read more