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Detecting hydrogen leaks from a distance
H2 Production tests the Sorama CAM iV64Ex to detect hydrogen leaks from a distance, even in harsh conditions
Introduction
When noise complaints are hard to trace and explain
H2 Production, part of Norwegian CCB Energy, produces clean hydrogen with integrated carbon capture at the Energy Park near Bergen. Hydrogen brings real safety risk, so the team focuses on detecting leaks early, before they become dangerous.
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The challenge
Hydrogen leaks are hard to spot, and routine checks invite human error
Hydrogen is odorless and colorless. Even if it ignites, it can be hard to see. That makes leak detection critical, especially because small leaks can escalate into serious hazards if gas accumulates and ignites.
H2 Production already used traditional gas detectors, but those require getting very close to each potential leak point. In a plant with tanks, pipes, tight spaces, and background noise, that creates two problems:
- some areas are physically hard to reach
- repetitive “point the tube and hold it” routines can lead to missed spots or rushed sweeps
When Sorama asked H2 Production to test an ATEX acoustic camera during development, the team was interested, but skeptical. They had seen “too good to be true” tools before.
The approach
Real-world test of the Sorama CAM iV64Ex in the plant
H2 Production tested the Sorama CAM iV64Ex as a way to scan multiple leak points from a distance, without navigating a probe into every tight location.
The test did not happen in ideal conditions. A storm hit during the trial, with wind speeds up to 20 m/s. The team expected wind noise to make acoustic detection unreliable.
Instead, the Sorama CAM iV64Ex picked up the ultrasonic signature of a very small leak quickly. The team then verified the location with a traditional gas detector. Because they knew where to look, the gas detector also confirmed the leak, and they believe they could have missed it otherwise due to the number of potential leak points in that area.
It really worked! We found a very small leak. For the Sorama CAM iV64Ex to work under such conditions was a very good selling point.
This will absolutely change the way detection is done in our industry.
The results
Proven detection, clear path to implementation
The test convinced H2 Production to move forward. They ordered the Sorama CAM iV64Ex and planned to integrate it into their routines, using handheld inspections for manual checks and adding fixed monitoring in critical areas.
They expect the Sorama CAM iV64Ex to reduce inspection time and improve accuracy, not just for hydrogen but for other gases on site as well. They also noted one practical barrier: acoustic leak detection may not yet be accepted everywhere for regulated verification until it becomes more established in the industry.