Preventing Gas Leak Explosions with the FLIR GFx320 Gas Detection Camera

This past June, a tanker carrying liquified petroleum gas exploded on a road in the Zhejiang Province in China. 20 people died and almost 200 were injured when the truck exploded on a highway near the city of Wenling and was propelled into a nearby factory.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a colorless, volatile refinery gas or natural gas that has been pressurized and cooled to take on a liquid form. One likely cause of this tragedy is that the LPG carried by the tanker leaked, became gaseous again, and then exploded as it mixed with air.

As LPG is highly flammable and explosive, safety is of the upmost importance during storage and transportation. Tragically, LPG explosions and accidents have continued to occur worldwide.

The FLIR GFx320 optical gas imaging camera can visualize otherwise invisible gas leaks.

To prevent such catastrophes, it’s imperative to carry out regular checks on flammable and explosion-prone gases like LPG. The FLIR GFx320 is a thermal optical gas imaging (OGI) camera capable of quickly detecting gas leaks from a safe distance. Leaks that would be invisible to the human eye are visualized easily, maintaining safety inside hazardous locations for operators and all those nearby.

Certified for Hazardous Locations and Environmental Regulations

The GFx320 has third-party certifications for use in hazardous areas, allowing for quick leak detection while maintaining safety. It is certified under the International Electrotechnical Commission for use in explosive atmospheres (IECEx certification), certified under EU ATEX directives, certified under ANSI/ISA explosion-proof standards in the U.S., and under CSA explosion-proof standards in Canada.  

The GFx320 is ergonomically designed to prevent operator fatigue.

The GFx320 is also certified under US environmental laws, regulations, and standards for detecting methane leaks. With the potential to detect gas leak at just 0.4g/hr, the FLIR GFx320 meets sensitivity standards defined in the US EPA’s OOOOa methane rule.

Powerful Gas-Detection Technology

The FLIR GFx320 is professionally calibrated to detect the discharge of more than 400 types of gasses, including volatile gasses like methane, propane, butane, hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The camera comes with 3 imaging modes: infrared imaging, visible light imaging, and High Sensitivity Mode (HSM). HSM is the standard mode for detecting leaked gases. It employs FLIR’s proprietary video processing technology to highlight plume movement and enable a 5x increase in gas detectability.

Gas leaks that are invisible to the naked eye can be visualized with an optical gas imaging camera.

Rugged and reliable

Operator-friendly, the GFx320 is ergonomically designed with tiltable eyepiece, clear LCD screen, and rotating hand grip, allowing users to maintain comfortable three-point contact throughout the operation. The GFx320’s rubberized buttons and rugged camera housing are designed specifically for a tough work environment.

Gas leakage is one of the most serious hazards in industrial production, directly affecting human safety. Hazardous gases may cause poisoning, fires, and explosions, leading to serious human casualty and property damage. Adequate maintenance and detection measures are vital anywhere there is a chance of leaks. Learn more about FLIR gas detection solutions: www.flir.com.au/instruments/oilandgas/