Bestobell Steam Steam-Tector 2 Leak Detection - Manual (Page 2)

Principle of Operation
The principle of operation of the Steam Tector 2 is based on
the turbulent flow of fluids and gasses. Turbulent flow has a
high content of ultrasound. This is sound which is above the
human hearing range, but can be heard with the Steam Tector
2, and traced to its source.
Imagine air leaking from a tire. Because this is such a large
leak, your ear can detect this sound, however your ear hears
only about 1/3 of the actual spectrum of sound which exists.
The sound of small leaks is mostly ultrasonic which your ear
can not detect.
It is important to remember this example... A piece of straight
tubing connected to a gas supply and left free to exhaust into
the atmosphere will not generate sound if the volume of gas
through it is such that turbulence does not take place. Yet for
that same flow, an opening as small as 0.005 of an inch could
generate enough sound to be heard several feet away.
For a leak to happen there must be an opening in the system
that carries a gas or fluid. Normally, these openings are not
clean smooth holes, but passages through cracks with many
jagged edges and internal chambers. Fluid or gas escaping
through an “orifice” like this, is forced into turbulence, ran-
dom circular-like motions. Inside a tube where a gas may be
flowing, the flow is normally laminar which means that a given
layer of gas does not mix with layers above it or below it. This
condition happens in a straight long tube when the velocity of
the fluid is not high. A gas leaking out of a straight and long
tube will not generate as much sound as if it were leaking out
of a small crack because the flow is not turbulent.
The intensity of sound generated at a leak is a very complex
function of the viscosity, the temperature, the speed the fluid is
moving, the Raynolds number, the pressure differential across
the leak, and the physical dimensions and characteristics of
the orifice. This is why it is possible for a smaller leak to gener-
ate more sound than a larger one.
What this all means...
The Steam Tector 2 detects ultrasound NOT refrigerant or the
presence of a specific gas. It is NOT a sniffer. Because of this
fact, the Steam Tector 2 can function in areas where heavy
wind or a concentration of fumes renders other detectors use-
less.
Because of the unique touchprobe system in the Steam Tector
2, it can also be used to detect turbulent internal flow in situa-
tions such as leaks in valves, steam traps, and pump cavitation.
WARNING
Ultrasonic detectors will not indicate a leak if there is no turbu-
lent flow producing sound when you check it. If you suspect a
toxic gas, natural gas, or other combustible gas leak, and do
not detect it with the Steam Tector 2, do not assume that it does
not exist as it may not be turbulent. Use another method as
verification that there is no leaking gas present.
Operation
To use the system, plug the headphones into the jack on the
right side of the instrument ( I ).
Depress the “on/off” button (D.) once to turn the unit on (de-
press it again to turn the unit off).
Depending on whether you are in contact or airborne mode, you
will immediately begin to hear the translated ultrasonic signal
from either the airborne sensor (A.), or the touchprobe sensor
(B.).
Using the modes...
The Steam Tector 2 uses a simple method of select and adjust.
Press the “Mode” button to select the parameter you wish to
change, then use the Up and Down arrows (G. & H.) to make the
adjustment. The Steam Tector 2 offers modes in the following
order...
Volume  Display 
Air  Probe  Oper.
(“” and “”) (Continuous, (“” or “” to active)
Peak Hold,
or Off)
Setting the Sensitivity:
The Steam Tector 2 always defaults back to sensitivity as the ac-
tive mode. This means that after any other adjustment has been
made, it will hold the setting in memory, and reset itself so that
“” and “” adjust sensitivity.
Pressing the “” and “” arrows will adjust the sensitivity while
in either the Airborne or Touchprobe mode. The prefix on the
A.N.D. indicates the active mode being changed. For example,
the display will read “A 000” to show that you are adjusting the
airborne sensor’s sensitivity, or “P 000” to indicate that you are
adjusting the sensitivity of the touchprobe sensor.
Setting the Volume:
While using either the Airborne or Touchprobe mode, pressing
the “MODE” button once will put the Steam Tector 2 in the Vol-
ume Adjust Mode. The alphanumeric display will read “Vol” as
long as the MODE button is pressed. When released it will show
“V000” indicating the current volume setting. Use the “” and
“” buttons to make the adjustment. You will hear the volume
change as the display changes from “V 000” to “V 255” (the “V”
prefix indicates that volume is the current mode being adjusted).
Note: Volume and sensitivity are not the same. Volume adjusts
the loudness of the signal in the headset. Sensitivity adjusts the
meters reaction to the incoming signal.
Selecting the Sensor:
Press the “MODE” button three times. The alphanumeric display
will read “Air”. The instrument will wait 3 seconds after releasing
the MODE button for you to press the “” or “” button which
locks in the sensor selection. If you press the “MODE” button
again, the alphanumeric display will read “Prb”, and wait 3 sec-
onds for you to press the “” or “” button to lock in Probe as
your sensor selection.
Adjusting the Display:
The alphanumeric display offers three viewing options. Continu-
ous, Peak, and Off. Press the “MODE” button twice. The display
will read “Disp”. Then by pressing the “” or “” buttons it will
scroll through the display options which are as follows... “Cont”