BIRD Wireless Leak Monitor
The ClampOn BIRD Leak Monitor detects small and medium leaks or flow-throughs, even with low differential pressure over the measuring point on pipes and valves. The ClampOn BIRD Leak Monitor has been developed with the aim of offering a product that can quantify leaks through closed valves.
Operating across multiple frequency bands, it isolates leak-specific signals like the subtle “hiss” from background noise, ensuring reliable detection even in challenging environments.
The ClampOn BIRD is a unique wireless acoustic instrument for the onshore, downstream and unconventional market. It is non-inrusive and clamped to the outside of the pipewall / valve.
A leak creates a very high-frequency noise that can be monitored by an ultrasonic sensor. In a "non-leak" situation the ultrasonic pattern will be stable, but when a leak occurs the ultrasonic signal will change drastically. ClampOn's Digital Signal Processing (DSP) technology distinguishes and eliminates background noise unrelated to leakages so that the hiss from the leaks can warn the operator. The system also includes a program or database that helps to monitor and indicate the volume of the leak.
The ClampOn BIRD Leak Monitor is smart, sensitive and wireless. It is designed to detect and quantify leaks through closed valves. Th instrument can be installed at critical points such as valves, flanges, joints, etc., and can monitor very small leakages. A pressure differential of as little as 1 bar can be monitored in gases, and 3 bar in liquids.
- Non-intrusive
- Wireless
- Internal PowerModule
- Versatile
- Real-time measurement
A leak in a flow line, valve, flange or any other component can compromise safety and may also lead to a shutdown at the production stage or down-stream at a refinery or terminal. It is extremely important for the operator to be warned about any leak immediately should it occur.
A leak from a valve normally has a very low flow-rate, which is determined by the size of the defect, the properties of the fluid and the pressure differential. There are numbers of advantages in using the BIRD Wireless Leak Monitor to monitor valves.
- Reduced loss to flare
- Maintenance planning
- Reduced process loss
- Reduced loss to atmoshpere
With wireless communication and power from an integral long lasting PowerModule, the need for expensive cabling, complex wiring diagrams, and termination boxes is no a thing of the past. The ClampOn BIRD offers the latest technology, including energy efficient Digital Signal Processing (DSP), a very low power RF node, and a sub 1GHz programmabla ultra-low power mode.
These technologies combine to allow the sensor to operate for a year on a single PowerModule. The ClampOn BIRD sensor continuously monitors the condition of the PowerModule and will inform the client when it is time to replace the module.
With its wireless connection interface, the ClampOn BIRD instrument utilizes a self-forming mesh network that will add any additional ClampOn BIRD instrument to the network automatically. By connecting to the ClampOn Router data from the instruments is retrieved using Modbus and can be integrated to a control system or standard ClampOn monitoring software.
| Mesh network | Multi-hop mesh technology, self-forming and self healing netwotk |
| Wireless connectivity | Line of Sight: up to 1 000 m (urban: 200 m) |
| Security | Encrypted data communication |
| Firmware update | OTA - Over the Air |
| Battery operated | 1 year of operation |
The instruments can easily be clamped to the valve or on the pipe close to the valve. Installing and setting up an entire network of ClampOn BIRD instruments is done in only a few hours. Even installation in remote and rural locations is no longer a problem, as repeaters can be used to extend the network. The Leak detector is clamped to the outside of the pipe, or the valve, so no parts are in contact with the flow. It can be installed on pipes of various dimensions.
| Method of operation | Passive acoustics (ultraosnic) |
| Method of installation | Non-intrusive, clamped to pipe surface |
|
Minimum detectable leakage Gas Liquid |
dp>1 bar, min. leakage rate 0.1/min dp>3 bar, min. leakage rate 0.1 l/min |
| Flow regimes | Oil, gas, water, multiphase |
| Repeatability | Better than 1% |
| Interface options | RS-485 (ModBus RTU) |
|
RF Module frequency range Comply |
862 MHz to 930 MHz IEEE 802.15.4g FCC and CE |
| RF output power | <14 dBm |
| Range LOS | ≤1 km |
| Data transmission rate | Configurable from 1 second to 60 minutes |
|
Pipe surface temperature Option w/high temperature fix |
-40 °C / +140 °C -162 °C / +350 °C |
| Diagnostic features | Intelligent "health check" |
| Ingress protection | IP 65 tested to IEC 60529 |
| Housing Material | Polybutylene terephtalate (PBT) and stainless steel 316L |
| Dimensions (l x w x h) | 212 mm x 174 mm x 165 mm [8.3 in × 6.9 in × 6.5 in] |
| Weight (instrument only) | 1.2 kg [2.6 lb] |
| Antenna type | Integral omnidirectional, 868 MHz or 915 MHz |
| PowerModule type | Intrinsically safe non-rechargeable lithiumthionyl chloride |
| Power consumption | 0.1 Watt (average) |
| Electronics platform | ClampOn DSP III |
| All specifications are subject to change without notice |