VARIOTEC 460

VARIOTEC 460 tracer gas in use

• The pipe, (or any item) 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, supplied by standard compressed gas suppliers), make  a suitable connection from the cylinder to the item to be filled with gas.

• Pressurise the system to be filled with tracer gas. The pressure will depend on the normal operating pressure of the system being tested for leaks and how high you want to pressurise.

• When the cylinder pressure gauge steadies you know that the system is now losing tracer gas only through the leak

• With the Variotec 460’s  internal sampling pump turned on (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

Why use hydrogen as the tracer gas?

Hydrogen, at a level of 5% in a balance of nitrogen, is:

• 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

Variotec 460 tracer gas sampling probes

• Carpet probes for long stretches of smooth surfaces
• Bell probes which concentrate the gas for localising in undergrowth or on smooth surfaces such as kitchen floors
• Hand probes both telescopic and flexivle to reach into awkward areas
• Cone probes for localisation in bar holes you make in the ground

Charging and carrying the Variotec 460 tracer gas

• Parts and accessories are stored neatly in the hard protective carrying case
• The Variotec 460 tracer gas may be charged directly from a 12 V cigar lighter socket in a vehicle or from the mains
• The detector can be charged whilst remaining in the case

Variotec 460 tracer gas Specifications