SF6 Leakmate - Portable SF6 Leak Detector

Sensitive portable leak detector complementing Rapidox composition analyzers for complete SF6 maintenance.

Description

SF6 Leakmate is a portable leak detector for mobile detection of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) insulating gas leaks in high- and medium-voltage equipment. The instrument is offered by Cambridge Sensotec as a complement to the Rapidox gas analyzer range — for cases where a customer's technical requirements or tender documentation call for the ability to pinpoint leak locations.

With a detection threshold of 1×10⁻⁶ mbar·l/s, the instrument reliably detects even small SF6 leaks at a live substation, without requiring laboratory equipment or a fixed detector.

Operating Principle and Difference from a Gas Analyzer

Leak Detector vs. SF6 Gas Analyzer

Parameter	SF6 Leakmate (leak detector)	Rapidox SF6 6100 (analyzer)
Task	Find the leak location	Measure gas quality
Principle	Detecting SF6 in the air	Analyzing a gas sample from the equipment
Indication	LED bar-graph + audio	Digital values on the display
Application	Walking the equipment perimeter	Connecting to a sampling port
Speed	Instant response	Several minutes for analysis
Portability	Maximum (one hand)	Portable case

When you need a leak detector rather than an analyzer

• On suspicion of a leak — when the pressure in a cell is gradually dropping
• During a scheduled inspection of the entire equipment fleet — a quick check without connection
• During a post-repair check — verifying the tightness of seals and flanges
• When tender requirements explicitly call for a leak detector (sniffer)

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Value
Detected gas	Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
Detection threshold	1×10⁻⁶ mbar·l/s
Indicator	LED bar-graph (3 levels)
Alarm	Audible signal + light
Control	Microprocessor (no zero drift)
Probe	Flexible probe for hard-to-reach places
Form factor	Pistol grip, one-handed
Power	Battery

Leak Level Indication

The built-in LED bar-graph allows the scale of a leak to be quickly assessed on site:

• Green (small leak) — minor leak, requires monitoring
• Yellow (medium leak) — requires scheduled repair
• Red (large leak) — immediate intervention required

The audible signal intensifies in proportion to the SF6 concentration, allowing the operator to work without constantly watching the instrument display — especially convenient when walking around equipment.

Application Scenarios on Site

Scheduled substation inspection

1. The operator walks the cells with the Leakmate switched on
2. The probe is brought close to potential leak points — flanges, seals, welds, sight glasses
3. When the alarm triggers, the leak location is recorded for further repair
4. The data is entered into the maintenance log

Tightness check after repair

After replacing seals or gaskets, or refilling equipment, the Leakmate is used to quickly verify that all connections are gas-tight before energizing the equipment.

Working alongside a Rapidox gas analyzer

The optimal workflow at a substation:

1. Leakmate → quick walk-through, identifying cells suspected of leaking
2. Rapidox SF6 6100 → detailed analysis of gas quality in the identified cells (moisture, purity, decomposition products)

This two-stage approach saves time and increases maintenance efficiency.

Area of Application

Types of SF6 equipment

• High-voltage circuit breakers (72–1150 kV) — Siemens, ABB, Hitachi, GE, Mitsubishi, Schneider
• Gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) — compact substations
• Gas-insulated lines (GIL) — cable routes in tunnels
• Cable joints with gas insulation
• High-voltage transformers with SF6 insulation

Industries of application

• Power industry — power plants, grid companies, substations
• Industry — enterprises' own high-voltage networks
• Oil and gas — emergency power supply, drilling platforms
• Rail transport — traction substations
• Municipal utilities — urban switchgear substations

Environmental Aspect

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is one of the most potent greenhouse gases:

• Global warming potential: 23,500 × CO₂
• Atmospheric lifetime: ~3,200 years

Timely detection and elimination of leaks using the SF6 Leakmate helps to:

• Prevent SF6 emissions into the atmosphere
• Meet the requirements of the Kyoto Protocol and EU F-Gas Regulation
• Reduce consumption of new SF6 gas (budget savings)

Scope of Delivery

• Portable SF6 Leakmate leak detector
• Flexible probe
• Battery and charger
• Protective carrying case
• User manual

Standards and Regulations

• IEC 60480 — Control of SF6 in service
• IEC 62271-1 — High-voltage equipment requirements
• EU F-Gas Regulation (517/2014) — Regulation of fluorinated gases
• Kyoto Protocol — Limiting greenhouse gas emissions

Documents

• Technical Specification (PDF)
• Operating Manual (PDF)