Detecting Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) leaks

Limiting the impact of this greenhouse gas

SF6 is an excellent electrical insulator but also subject to fugitive emissions just like any other fluid conveyed in a pipeline or stored in a tank.
SF6 is one of the six types of greenhouse gas addressed by the Kyoto agreement and Directive 2003/87/EC. Preventing any form of emission of this precious gas is therefore a priority for any industrial operator which stores or produces it.
The Global Warming Potential (GWP) of SF6 is 22,800 times greater than that of CO2, which makes it the most harmful greenhouse gas on Earth.

As its cost is considerable, any SF6 lost through leaks represents a financial loss, in addition to penalties applied to such polluting emissions. Significant savings can therefore be made by detecting and repairing leaks on SF6 pipeline networks.

This approach of reducing energy losses by leak detection and repair is an important facet of ISO 50001 certification.

In regulatory terms, this type of service meets the criteria of the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) 2010/75/EU.

Preventing fugitive emissions of SF6

Bureau Veritas proposes an optimised method assisted by its GEF Utilities software. It can be used to carry out leak detection programmes to reduce fugitive emissions of all “Utility” fluids, including SF6.

Furthermore, the leak detection technology we use quantifies the flow rates of the associated emissions. We can therefore estimate the annual financial losses caused by each leak. This technology can detect leaks that are both accessible and inaccessible (remote detection and measurement).

Our services may be one-off or be included in regular inspections to validate the operation of gas density monitors or leak testing during the installation of leak repair clamps, etc.

Bureau Veritas offers a wide range of leak detection technologies combined with the “GEF Utilities” software. We can therefore propose a number of deliverables required to repair and reconfigure your networks, with a view to optimising your energy consumption:

• Detailed report
• List of leaks in order of flow and/or financial loss
• Repair orders (photos of leaks, identification on drawings, etc.)
• Logs conserved for long-term monitoring
• Log of SF6 top-ups in GIS (date and quantity)
• etc.