WI Discovery Detector

WI Discovery® Leakage Detector – Enhancing Asset Integrity and Plant Safety Through Early Leak Detection

A. Early Leak Detection Where Visual Inspection Fails

Leakage in pipelines and vessels often remains undetected when hidden beneath thermal insulation, pipe sleeves, or structural supports. These concealed leaks can escalate into corrosion under insulation (CUI), safety incidents, unplanned shutdowns, and environmental hazards.

The WI Discovery® Leakage Detector by Scansolution is a SMART, intrinsically safe device designed to continuously monitor and detect fluid leakage directly at the pipe or vessel surface, even in ATEX Zone 0 environments. It provides plant operators with early, actionable alerts before minor leaks develop into major failures.

1. What Is WI Discovery®?

WI Discovery® is a certified leakage detection device engineered for preventive maintenance and safety-critical applications. Once installed at strategic locations, it can:

  • Detect conductive liquids (e.g. water, corrosive fluids)
  • Detect hydrocarbon liquids
  • Provide visual indication of leak type and presence
  • Operate safely in potentially explosive atmospheres

Detection Indication Logic

  • Normal condition: No activation
  • Conductive liquid detected: LED light flashes
  • Hydrocarbon liquid detected: Detection component changes to red

This clear differentiation enables faster troubleshooting and safer response planning.

2. Designed for Hazardous & Industrial Environments

WI Discovery® is certified for use in explosive atmospheres and harsh operating conditions, making it suitable for upstream, midstream, downstream, and heavy industrial facilities.

Key Certifications & Ratings

  • ATEX Certification: II 1 G Ex ia IIC T4
  • ATEX Certificate No.: EU TYPE-EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE ATEX n. 0P190417.SUS20
  • Ingress Protection: IP66 (waterproof – resistant to rain, wash water, and environmental exposure)
  • Ambient Temperature Range: –40 °C to +80 °C
  • Maximum Application Temperature: +275 °C (527 °F)
  • Patent No.: ZL 2017 2 0882569.4

This makes WI Discovery® suitable for high-temperature pipelines, insulated equipment, and corrosive service lines commonly found in oil & gas and process industries.

3. Where Should WI Discovery® Be Installed?

Correct placement is essential for effective leak detection. WI Discovery® is recommended at known high-risk leak locations, including:

Suggested Critical Installation Points

  • Bottom of dead corners (outlets, discharge points)
  • Bottom of pipeline supports and lifting points
  • Bottom of valves and nozzles (irregular geometries)
  • Bottom of pipe sleeves
  • Bottom of steam heating pipe inlets
  • Bottom of elbows and T-joints

     

These locations are statistically more prone to leakage and CUI development due to condensation, stagnation, vibration, or mechanical stress.

4. Industries & Applications

WI Discovery® is applicable across a wide range of industries where leak concealment poses operational or safety risk:

  • Oil & Gas (Upstream, Midstream, Downstream)
  • Petrochemical & Chemical Processing
  • Chemical Storage Terminals
  • Shipbuilding & Marine Systems
  • Steel & Heavy Manufacturing
  • Food & Beverage Processing
  • Pulp & Paper
  • Sugar Refining

For operators managing large networks of insulated piping, WI Discovery® offers a cost-effective layer of continuous monitoring without intrusive inspection.

5. Key Benefits to Plant Owners & Operators5

Early Leek Detection

Safe deployment in ATEX Zone 0 without compromising plant safety compliance.

Improved Safety Awareness

Continuous monitoring enhances operator awareness in normally inaccessible or hidden locations.

Reduced Unplanned Downtime

Early alerts allow planned intervention instead of emergency shutdowns.

Supports Preventive Maintenance Programs

Complements RBI, CUI management, and integrity assurance strategies.

Certified for Hazardous Areas

Safe deployment in ATEX Zone 0 without compromising plant safety compliance.

6. Integrating WI Discovery® into Your Integrity Strategy

WI Discovery® can be deployed as a standalone safety enhancement or integrated with broader Scansolution Process Diagnostic Services, supporting:

  • Leak risk management
  • CUI mitigation strategies
  • Asset integrity programs
  • Pre-shutdown and operational diagnostics

By combining smart field detection with advanced diagnostics, operators gain deeper insight and stronger control over asset health.

7. Talk to Scansolution

If your facility has insulated pipelines, high-temperature services, or concealed leak risk, WI Discovery® can significantly enhance safety and reliability.

Contact Scansolution today to discuss how WI Discovery® can be deployed as part of your plant’s integrity and preventive maintenance strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is WI Discovery®?

WI Discovery® is a SMART leakage detector by Scansolution designed to detect concealed conductive and hydrocarbon liquid leaks on pipelines and vessels, especially under thermal insulation.

The device monitors the pipe or vessel surface continuously. Conductive liquids trigger a flashing LED indicator, while hydrocarbon liquids cause the detection component to change colour to red, allowing immediate visual identification.

Yes. WI Discovery® is certified as intrinsically safe for ATEX Zone 0 environments (II 1 G Ex ia IIC T4), making it suitable for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.

It is recommended at high-risk locations such as dead legs, pipe supports, valves, nozzles, elbows, T-joints, pipe sleeves, and steam heating inlets—areas where leaks are most likely to occur and remain hidden.

WI Discovery® is widely used in oil & gas, petrochemical, chemical processing, shipbuilding, steel manufacturing, food & beverage, pulp & paper, sugar refining, and chemical storage facilities.

Key benefits include early leak detection, improved plant safety awareness, reduced unplanned shutdowns, support for preventive maintenance programs, and mitigation of corrosion under insulation (CUI).

Yes. The device supports application temperatures up to 275 °C and operates reliably in ambient temperatures ranging from –40 °C to +80 °C.

By providing continuous, localised leak detection, WI Discovery® complements RBI, CUI management, and asset integrity strategies—allowing early intervention before leaks escalate into major failures.