Electrical Leak Detection

Home Services Electrical Leak Detection
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GeoQ has invested in industry leading Electrical Leak detection equipment from American, European and Unitied Kingdom manufactures. Utilising these manufacturers it ensures GeoQ are at the forefront of electrical leak detection technology. GeoQ are able to undertake a full range of electrical leak detection in accordance with the following ASTM standards:

  • ASTM D6747 – 15- Standard Guide for Selection of Techniques for Electrical Detection of Potential Leak Paths in Geomembranes
  • ASTM D7703-2016 – Standard Practice for Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes using the Water Lance System
  • ASTM D 7007 -16 Electrical Methods for Locating Leaks in Geomembranes covered with water or earthen material
  • D7953 Electrical Leak Location on Exposed Geomembranes Using ARC testing Method

Once testing is completed, our technical team are able to provide comprehensive reports detailing any potential voids or holes down to the millimeter. Our engineering department uses the latest data analysis software to provide our client visual representation of the area being surveyed.
Our team is ready to travel to any location within Australia and abroad if required to undertake electrical leak detection.

By Abigail Gilson-Beck and Julio Ferreira –

“Designers of geomembrane-lined containment facilities commonly assume two to five leaks per hectare, with each leak of the size or diameter of a few millimeters. A leak is any damage that fully penetrates a geomembrane panel or seam (e.g. hole, perforation, tear, crack or puncture). Typical leaks caused by equipment placing cover material can be orders of magnitude larger than what is typically assumed in design, and may compromise the project. The ASTM D7007 is the standard practice used throughout the world for electrically locating leaks in installed covered geomembranes. For over a decade, this standard has virtually not changed, although significant advances in technology have occurred”

www.geosynthetica.net/electrical-leak-location-covered-geomembranes/

WHAT IS ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE?

Perhaps you’ve heard the term and are unsure what electrical leak detection entails. The majority of today’s homes are built on concrete slabs, making early leak identification difficult. If your water usage changes without incident or if you observe an increase in usage, there could be a minor to large leak under your slab that you are unaware of.

The gradual transfer of electrical energy across a normally insulating boundary, such as the spontaneous discharge of a charged capacitor, magnetic coupling of a transformer with other components, or flow of current across a transistor in the “off” state or a reverse-polarized diode, is known as leakage or leak in electronics.

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The Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system is the most prevalent leak detection tool for pipeline operators. This system tracks data such as pressure, flow rates, temperature, and whether valves are open or closed using a number of sensors. The information is relayed to a control room, where operators assess the validity of the leak alerts. The Computational Pipeline Monitoring System (CPM), which detects leaks, has been added to some systems. Pipeline operators have complained to the Australian Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration that these devices are ineffective at detecting leaks. Even with these in place, the SCADA system is said to have only detected 19 percent of leaks, while the CPM system has only detected 10%.

 

WHAT CAUSES ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE?

When the current in your area passes from the right wire into the appliance or the ground wire, is the most common cause of electrical leakage. The current is subsequently taken away to the earth, resulting in an electrical leak.

This is surprisingly prevalent, and it’s usually caused by old wiring with deteriorating wire sheaths. It could also be the result of faulty wiring or an old equipment that is starting to fail. It is critical that you have a good earth at this time. If you don’t, the current flowing into the area’s exteriors will find its way into your body when you contact it, where it will travel through your body before sinking into the earth.

It can give you an unpleasant shock in the process, which is why you should be cautious when dealing with electrical issues. It’s best to contact a professional because they know what they’re doing. Even if the noise is negligible to our hearing, all water leaks produce some level of noise. The degree of pressure in the pipes determines the sound frequency of various sorts of leaks. These frequencies can be picked up by an electronic leak detector, and these noises can be deciphered by a professional who is skilled in plumbing acoustics. Leaks in toilets, drains, water systems, steam pipes, and pipes that transport other liquids, such as oil, can be detected with an electronic leak detector.

 

WHERE DOES THE LEAKAGE CURRENT FLOW?

When an unintended electrical connection between the ground and an energized part or conductor occurs in equipment, leakage current flows. The ground might be either the zero-voltage reference point or the earth ground. The current leaking from the power supply unit should ideally go through the ground connection and into the earth ground of the installation.

Signal cables connecting to other grounded or ungrounded equipment, such as printers, are the most common source of current leakage in laptops or devices with two pin connectors. If the other equipment is correctly grounded, it will provide a channel to the ground; however, if it is not properly earthed, anyone contacting the exposed metal pieces will receive an electric shock.

Leakage in devices is mostly caused by flaws in the insulators or materials used to create components like semiconductors and capacitors. In the case of a capacitor, this results in a little current leaking or flowing through the dielectric.

 

WHAT IS WATER LANCE TESTING?

In geosynthetic systems, water lance testing is critical. This method is most commonly utilized on steeper slopes, but it can also be applied in flat environments. It necessitates the presence of a water supply and becomes less sensitive in the presence of bad boundary conditions. A leak with a diameter of 1 mm has the lowest sensitivity. The water sprayed over the geomembrane is fed by a low voltage direct current source.

Installers use a stream of water directed onto the liner in this approach. It doesn’t take a lot of water, and the water is recycled on a regular basis. For new liner installations, the Water Lance Testing Method is the most often utilized leak detection survey. It is a favored method for bare non-conductive geomembrane and permits surveying on non-level surfaces.

 

WHAT IS THE STANDARD WATER LANCE TESTING PROCEDURE?

The primary purpose of geosynthetic installations is to fortify and protect terrains against erosion. To overcome civil engineering challenges, they use layers of polymeric materials and clay. Geomembranes are among these goods, as the material’s polymeric properties make it suited for ground stability installations. Geosynthetic products are extremely long-lasting and are ideal for geotechnical and geoenvironmental dams, canals, landfill liners, and landfill coverings, among other applications.

Geomembranes are used to keep liquids from seeping out of landfills and ponds. Installers take great care to ensure that this project is safe and secure, even if a minor leak occurs. Engineers use this to prevent contaminated water from polluting the facilities and causing extra environmental damage. As a result, water lance testing is required. Installers make every effort to prevent any contamination from causing further environmental harm. Leaking, for example, can cause the installation to erode.

Leaks in geomembranes can occur as a result of poor material quality, bad technical installations, factory flaws, accidents, or neglect. Before causing serious damage to the systems, a water leak should be avoided.

Geosynthetic testing is most useful for finding geomembrane leaks when proper preparations were made during the facility’s construction.

To summarize, to avoid failure and costly restructuring, a successful Water Lance method in a geomembrane installation must be completed thoroughly.

 

Our Works

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Previous projects for trusted clients in various containment applications.