Application
Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection
Omnidirectional, gas-agnostic detection of micro-scale leaks through broadband ultrasonic sensing, even in high-noise industrial environments.
Measured Performance
Quantified Leak Detection Performance
Every claim below is backed by measured data published in peer-reviewed journals.
Smallest Orifice Detected
Resolved leak signatures from a 5 μm pinhole — smaller than a red blood cell. Conventional ultrasonic detectors cannot resolve leaks at this scale.[1]
Minimum Detectable Leak Rate
Detects leak rates as low as ~0.6 SCCM — approximately 100× more sensitive than the ~60 SCCM threshold of conventional ultrasonic leak detectors.[1]
Detection Bandwidth
Leak spectra captured across the full 0–5 MHz band, where conventional microphones capture only the low-frequency tail below ~100 kHz.[2]
Quantitative Leak Sizing
Spectral signatures encode both the orifice size and leak rate, allowing quantitative estimation from a single measurement — not just detect/no-detect.[1]
Why Broadband Ultrasonic Leak Detection?
Pressurized gas escaping through a small orifice generates turbulent flow whose acoustic emissions extend well into the MHz range. Conventional ultrasonic leak detectors operate below 100 kHz and capture only the low-frequency tail of this spectrum. BROADSONIC's 5 MHz bandwidth records the full emission, revealing spectral features — including discrete jet tones at specific MHz frequencies — that are invisible to narrowband instruments.[2]
Micro-Scale Sensitivity
Laboratory measurements published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2025) demonstrate detection of leaks from orifices as small as 5 μm, with a minimum detectable leak rate of ~0.6 SCCM. This is roughly 100× below the ~60 SCCM threshold of widely deployed conventional detectors, enabling early-stage leak identification before leaks escalate into safety or environmental incidents.[1]
Quantitative Leak Sizing
Leak emissions are not just detectable — they carry quantitative information. Published data show that both acoustic power and peak emission frequency scale predictably with orifice size and driving pressure. This means both the hole diameter and the leak rate can be estimated from a single spectral measurement, without prior knowledge of the gas type.[1]
Gas-Agnostic by Design
Unlike infrared or optical gas imaging (OGI) methods that rely on molecular absorption of specific gases, ultrasonic detection is fundamentally acoustic — it responds to turbulent flow, not gas composition. Published measurements confirmed that spectral features depend on orifice geometry and pressure, not the gas species.[2] BROADSONIC detects leaks regardless of the gas involved: natural gas, compressed air, nitrogen, refrigerants, hydrogen, or any other pressurized medium.
Omnidirectional Detection at Standoff Distance
With greater than ±60° omnidirectional response, BROADSONIC does not need to be aimed directly at a leak source. Published measurements confirmed off-axis and off-position detection with spectral content clearly visible above the noise floor.[2] This simplifies deployment for area monitoring without precise positioning.
Performance in High-Noise Environments
Industrial noise concentrates below 100 kHz. Leak signatures extend to MHz frequencies where measured signal levels lie orders of magnitude above the sensor’s noise floor.[2] BROADSONIC's 5 MHz bandwidth allows detection algorithms to operate in frequency bands with minimal interference, achieving reliable detection even near compressors, pumps, and other loud machinery.
Non-Contact, All-Optical Operation
The sensor head contains no electrical elements — detection is entirely optical, providing inherent immunity to electromagnetic interference and intrinsic safety in hazardous or explosive atmospheres.[2] The fiber-coupled design allows the lightweight 3 g sensor head to be positioned flexibly while the control unit remains up to 3 meters away.
Supporting Research
Ultrasonic Gas Leak Detection Using BROADSONIC Optical Ultrasonic Sensing
Download PDF →Characterization of Micro-Scale Gas Leaks Using an Optomechanical Ultrasound Sensor
Download PDF →All-Optical, Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Detection of Low-Pressure Gas Leaks and Observation of Jet Tones in the MHz Range
Download PDF →FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Published measurements in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (2025) demonstrated detection of leaks from orifices as small as 5 μm, with a minimum detectable leak rate of ~0.6 SCCM — roughly 100× more sensitive than the ~60 SCCM threshold of conventional ultrasonic leak detectors.
Yes. Published data show that both acoustic power and peak emission frequency scale predictably with orifice size and driving pressure. This means both the hole diameter and the leak rate can be estimated from a single spectral measurement — not just detect/no-detect.
BROADSONIC is gas-agnostic — it detects the turbulent flow from any pressurized gas leak, not the gas composition. Published experiments confirmed that spectral features depend on orifice geometry and pressure, not the gas species. This includes natural gas, compressed air, nitrogen, hydrogen, refrigerants, and any other pressurized medium.
Industrial noise concentrates below 100 kHz, while leak signatures extend to MHz frequencies where measured signal levels lie orders of magnitude above the sensor’s noise floor. BROADSONIC's 5 MHz bandwidth allows detection algorithms to operate in frequency bands with minimal background interference, even near compressors, pumps, and other loud machinery.
No. BROADSONIC has greater than ±60° omnidirectional response and does not need to be aimed directly at a leak source. Published measurements confirmed off-axis and off-position detection with spectral content clearly visible above the noise floor.
OGI cameras rely on infrared absorption and can only detect specific gases. BROADSONIC detects the acoustic signature of turbulent flow, making it completely gas-agnostic. It also works in any lighting condition, does not require line-of-sight to the leak point, and its all-optical sensor head is intrinsically safe in hazardous atmospheres.
Evaluate BROADSONIC for Leak Detection
Discuss your specific application requirements and learn how broadband ultrasonic sensing can improve your leak detection capabilities.