Detecting leaks, saving lifes

Since its creation in 1984, the US company has installed many kilometres of intelligent cables all over the world. With the increasing demand for facility monitoring and data protection, RLE Technologies’ proven expertise has been ex- tremely successful as demonstrated by record sales to start 2015.

RLE Technologies’ product fall into two main lines: Falcon and Seahawk with both product lines being developed, manufactured, and as- sembled in the USA.

The Falcon line of products provide monitor- ing solutions against environmental threats (humidity, temperature, air flow, pressure vari- ations, smoke, gas, etc.) and are employed to monitor and control a number of highly sensi- tive facilities, such as data centres. They detect any internal environmental change that is likely to provoke a collapse of an entire network of a company or a distribution service system.

The SeaHawk line is engineered to detect any form of liquid leak – a simple risk that can often cause serious consequences. A small water leak may happen anytime, anywhere – caused by a damaged standpipe, a frozen pipe, an over- flowed sink or toilet, or a roof leaking due to harsh weather conditions and so on. 

They are used in laboratories, museums, libraries, and more specifically IT departments and databas- es where water leaks into electrical equipment could be disastrous.

SeaHawk solutions are also designed to protect against false alarms caused by non-liquid con- tamination (dirt, debris…) and there is even a version that is resistant to rodents.

RLE Technologies’ emphasis on innovation has been rewarded by 11 patents and the team is continuously developing new solutions.

Headquartered in Fort Collins (Colorado), RLE Technologies’ engineers are currently working on an extension of the Falcon product line: an innovative wireless solution (Lattice wirefree network) will soon be available. The Lattice Wirefree Sensor Network will include all the sensor needed to fully protected a sensitive facility but will do it with less signal conflict, improved sensor battery life, and a number of additional benefits. Additionally, RLE is working on an innovative new leak detection cable en- gineered to detect multiple simultaneous leaks.

RLE Technologies has also been working on another promising development project, in cooperation with LEMO: a revolutionary hydro- carbon (petroleum) leak detection cable.

Imagine an above ground fuel tank refuelling mountain communities. Damage to this tank could cause leakage likely to contaminate both the soil around the tank and potentially the closest water source or river… Then, imagine a hydrocarbon leak detection sensing cable, placed between the tank’s inner and outer shell. Any problem will be detected before even a droplet of oil could escape into the environ- ment. One small step for man, preventing a dis- aster for the planet and costly clean-up for the petroleum company.

This hi-tech cable does not yet exist, but within a year it will be much more than mere science fiction. It will protect not only the environ- ment, but also human lives. Just think about the consequences of a leakage from an airport fuel tank, an offshore oil rig, or any other place where a single spark could cause a devastat- ing explosion.