Industrial facilities like Chemical Plants, Power Plants and Oil & Gas industries demand helium leak tests regularly.  Components and equipment in these sectors work 24/7 with highly sensitive elements which have a high potential for generating leakage. The timely inspection with Helium Leak Test can detain the risks of fatal accidents.  

Industries that integrate the below-mentioned components often need the Helium Leak Test for regular intervention  – 

• Heat exchangers & Condensers, Power Plant Turbines
• Fugitive Emission of Valves, Manifold seals & Bellows 
• Vacuum vessels and systems, Medical devices 
• Fuel lines & Hydraulic lines, Radiators & glove boxes, 
• Systems used in hazardous environments.
• Vacuum furnaces & vacuum coaters,  
• Semiconductor process equipment
• Laser process equipment & Gas handling systems, 
• Hermetically sealed packages, Liquid gas facilities & Cryo tanks

Helium leak test is widely used in industry sectors such as Petrochemical Industry, Manufacturing Industry, Pharmaceutical and Fertilizer.

Three Basic Techniques to perform Helium Leak Testing 

Process of helium leak detection changes as per the component’s characteristics. There are three methods to conduct helium leak tests that give precise results – 

1. Sniffer Technique

Pressure Testing is a technique for Helium Leak Detection

This technique uses Helium as a tracer gas coordinating with instruments that help detect the presence of Helium in the environment. This method locates the leak by sniffing the possible leak path. Leaks that are detected in sniffer techniques can also be repaired. Sniffer Technique is not quantitative and requires an operator’s skill in determining leaks. Immense care has to be taken as sniffing is indicative at a level of 1×10-5 atm.mm3/sec. diluting Helium and exiting leak path due to significant air movement. The primary purpose of the sniffer technique is to elevate the internal pressure within the part of the above ambient. As Helium is in the internal volume, the sniffer probe identifies the source of leakage where the leak might exit.

2. Vacuum Technique

Vacuum Testing is a technique for Helium Leak Detection

This technique has the same set-up as the sniffer method. The only difference is that the Helium is sprayed on the component through a vacuum probe to search for possible leakage in the component. Helium passes through the passage on the test object connecting to the detector, indicating whether the leak is present in the area where the helium search gas is exposed.

The tracer probe test is best used on seals, flange connections, weld seams and many more industrial assets. 

3. Hood Technique 

The Hood Technique includes covering the component with plastic before the test begins. The area between the component and the hood is filled with Helium from the search gas reservoir. The total outer surface of the component exposed to the Helium. Further, the Helium enters through all leaks present in the component detecting the total leak rate on the machine. The hood test is considered the best to examine small vessels.

TCR Advanced is an expert in bifurcating the component’s requirements as per its configuration. Thus, never pick the less but the best asset integrity management services. Click on this link to explore our website – www.tcradvanced.com  

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What is the Helium Leak Test?

With the continuous mass production in industries, heavy machinery often face ruptures that the naked eye cannot see. These ruptures obstruct the continuity forming a leakage in the containers that directly impedes the quality of production as well as creates an unsafe environment for people working around. To solve this dilemma, we at TCR Advanced offer NDT (non-destructive test) services like Helium Leak Detection that can help to identify unseen ruptures by spraying or sniffing the helium gas onto the component tracing the location for the type of leakage.

When should the Helium Leak Test be carried out?

Sometimes the output of working assets like heat exchangers or condensers fails to give their optimum results. This fluctuation takes place due to the leakage in tubes. It becomes highly essential to identify the leaking tubes as minor failures like this, invite the possibility of major process-upsets or accidents in the industry. Due to its high sensitivity, Helium leak testing can easily pinpoint the minuscule size of leakage.

Why Helium?

After hydrogen, helium is the second lightest element having properties such as non-toxic, inert and non-flammable. Helium molecules can pass through minor crevices in the component detecting the leakage’s path, location, and size even in the presence of process residue. As helium is not ordinarily present in the atmosphere (< 5 ppm), it can assuredly be traced through leaking containers. Compared to the pneumatic and hydro tests where water or other fluids are used, the Helium Leak Test is considered the most accurate detection method.

On which components HLT is usually performed?

Numerous apparatus are used in various industries in which the absence of leakage is of utmost importance. Majorly helium leak testing is performed on:

1.  Condensers
2.  Heat Exchangers
3.  Power Plant Turbines

In addition, it can be useful for Valves, bellows, Manifold seals, Vacuum vessels and systems, Medical devices, Fuel lines, Hydraulic lines, Refrigeration assemblies, Radiators, glove boxes, Vacuum furnaces, vacuum coaters, Semiconductor & Laser process equipment, Gas handling systems, Bioreactors, Hermetically sealed packages, Liquid gas facilities and Cryo tanks. The final benefit is time saved. Thus, without wasting time opt for our best NDT service – Helium Leak Test and let the machineries work smoothly.

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