When we talk about liquid contamination in natural gas pipelines, many imagine large slugs of liquid. But in reality, a common and equally serious issue is mist — a fine spray of microscopic droplets suspended in the gas stream.

At Process Vision, we wanted to demonstrate exactly what mist looks like and how our LineVu camera system detects it. In a zero-pressure test set up at our workshop, we introduced a controlled mist into a transparent section of pipe and filmed it both from the outside and from within using LineVu.

From the outside, the mist is clearly visible — a light cloud of droplets moving with the flow. But when viewed through LineVu, the effect is magnified. The camera's white light source reflects off the suspended droplets, intensifying the image brightness. As mist levels increase, the reflection becomes stronger, and the normally visible pipe floor becomes obscured. This visual bloom is a clear signal of contamination.

Why does this matter? Mist can cause significant problems in gas processing facilities. It's often a precursor to slugs, can damage compressors, and isn’t always detected by pressure or flow sensors alone. With LineVu, operators can see this contamination in real time — as it happens — and take action before it becomes a serious issue.