VARIOTEC 460 Tracergas
— Water leak detector using tracer gas
Locate water leaks using tracer gas
The hydrogen/nitrogen Tracer gas is introduced into the pipe, or item under test with the suspected leak from a cylinder of gas, (available from industrial gas and welding supply companies).
The tracer gas used to find water leaks is a mixture of hydrogen (5%) and nitrogen (95%) making it completely safe to use in drinking water supplies being both non toxic and non corrosive.
The tracer gas contains hydrogen, which is the lightest and smallest molecule in the atmosphere, which will exit at the leak point and make its way to the surface where it is detected by the highly sensitive Variotec 460 gas detector.
VARIOTEC 460 tracer gas in use
- The pipe, (or any item you wish to test for leaks), with the leak, is emptied of its contents. In heating or water systems drain out as much water as possible; small amounts of water remaining at low points of the system do not dramatically affect the success as the gas is pressurised around the water system.
- Ensure the system is sealed. i.e. no gas can escape except via the leakage point
- From a cylinder of Tracer gas, (5% hydrogen / 95% nitrogen, provided by standard compressed gas suppliers), make a suitable connection to the item to be filled with gas.
- The pressure you use will depend on the normal operating pressure of the system being tested for leaks and how high you wish to pressurise.
- When the cylinder pressure gauge steadies you know that any subsequent pressure loss of tracer gas can only be via a leak
- With the Variotec 460's internal sampling pump turned on, (this positive sampling of the air speeds up response time), walk over the area to be searched with the Variotec 460 on its most sensitive setting (ppm). Observe the display looking for the location with the highest tracer gas readings.
- Move away from the area that showed the highest gas readings and see that the display drops
- Return to the area that showed the highest reading and check the gas display once again increases
- Check other areas for high readings
Note: The above information is for generic guidance only and is not to be considered as instructions for how to operate or implement the use the Variotec 460
Variotec 460 Tracer Gas - Locate water leaks using Hydrogen
The VARIOTEC® 460 locates water leaks using tracer gas
No need to constantly reset to zero
The Variotec 460 tracer gas contains not one but two highly sensitive gas sensors. It measures from 1 ppm (part per million) to 100 Vol % hydrogen gas without you having to re-zero. The gas values are displayed on a large numerical display. This makes locating the water leak's precise position far faster and more reliable - the sensors cannot be "over range"
Wide range of sampling probes
Because the Variotec 460 tracer gas utilises a powerful built in electric sampling pump there is a wide range of probes and sampling systems available. From flexible hand probes, for small hard to reach areas, to Carpet probes to cover large outdoor areas.
Numerical display of tracer gas values
The Variotec 460 tracer gas displays the tracer gas escaping from the leak on a large numerical display from 0 ppm to 100 Vol%. This allows you to hone right in on the leak’s position, unlike with many cheaper devices that indicate only an approximate value by illuminating a series of LEDs
Why use hydrogen as the tracer gas?
- non flammable
- non toxic
- non corrosive
- totally safe
commonly used as a blanket gas in welding so is cheaply and readily available from all the standard gas suppliers
has the smallest and lightest molecules so permeates all surfaces including concrete, tarmac, block paving and grass, rising quickly to the surface
rapidly disperses in air allowing you to hone in quickly to the source
unlike helium leak detection, which has also been used for some types of leak detection tracing, hydrogen is renewable and cheap; helium is finite and expensive
