Detecting gas with Dräger

Leakages in gas pipelines pose an extreme risk to users and suppliers and therefore have to be treated with the highest priority. Moreover, any leaks in gas supply pipelines represent a direct loss in profit for the gas suppliers making early detection of leaks highly desirable.

The Dräger MSI P7 is an extremely useful device for such applications, designed to inspect natural gas, LPG, water and air-filled installations. The system is able to perform pressure measurements, direct tightness tests – an integrated pump automatically applies the required test pressures – and a leak rate test. All of these tests can be carried out simply without the need to fill external containers with gas, and can even be performed without knowing the volume of the installation. Optionally, the Dräger MSI P7 can be equipped with temperature and absolute pressure measurement capabilities.

The Dräger MSI P7 leak comparison method works as follows: one single flexible tube is connected to the gas pipe. The measuring instrument then detects the pressure in the gas pipe and automatically opens an internal comparison leak. The leak rate and the examined volume of the gas pipe are calculated from the measured pressure changes, with and without the comparison leak.

Similarly, leak testing of new installations is simple and straightforward. The Dräger MSI P7 generates a test pressure of approximate 110 millibar enabling the unit to perform the same measurements as outlined above without the need to open or close any valves.

To perform a load or leak rate test with the Dräger MSI P7 the pressure in the gas installation has to be set to approximately one bar. After a short temperature equalisation period, the pressure within the gas pipe is measured for ten minutes. At the end of the test, the results can be stored and displayed on a computer including a pressure-time diagram.

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