Leak sealing method for ducts transporting gas

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of reducing leakage through a leak in a duct along which a gas is flowing, the method comprises producing sealing elements, wherein the sealing elements are formed to have selected parameters; introducing a plurality of said sealing elements into the gas flowing along the duct; selecting said parameters of the sealing elements such that the elements are transported along the duct by saltation and such that, at the locality of the leak, at least one of said sealing elements is captured by a pressure differential associated with the leak and is thereby drawn to and held in position at the leak for stemming or sealing it. The present invention also relates to a sealing element for use in the aforementioned method.