A reliable leak test can reduce manufacturer warranty claims, product recalls, and production rework costs. However, numerous factors, such as the kind of leak test you use, station setup, and operator training, affect your ability to be confident in the results of your leak testing.
Leak testing involves sealing the component or system and introducing a medium-typically air, helium, or nitrogen test. A trained operator can then identify leaks based on the test medium’s behavior.
What is a Leak?
Liquid or gas that enters or leaves a system or container without authorization is considered to leak. During a leak testing Houston TX, this flow is measured by pressure changes within the product and atmospheric or ambient pressure outside it. The size of the leak opening (hole, crack, etc.) determines the flow rate and the leak’s overall magnitude.
Leaks can occur in many different locations. They may be obvious, such as a hole in the side of a ship or rusting pipes; they can also be hidden from view. They might be small, like a pinhole or bubble in imperfect welds, or massive, such as the air that escapes hot-air balloons or the fuel that seeps from a pipeline.
A leak can be intentional or unintentional. The former involves spreading unauthorized information, usually about politicians, to the media. This kind of leak is often deliberate and calculated to damage a politician’s reputation or influence policy.
Leak Detection Methods
There are numerous techniques for finding product leaks, each with advantages and disadvantages. In general, leak tests are used on objects that hold liquids or gasses to find defects, such as holes, cracks, or weak seals that allow the contained materials to flow through them.
A common leak detection technique involves introducing a test medium, usually air, nitrogen, or helium, into the tested object and ramping the pressure to its maximum working pressure. After that, a skilled user or automated device can check for leaks entering or leaving the thing to ensure it is structurally sound.
Another leak testing method measures the sound waves produced by a product under pressure. When a leak occurs, an acoustic leak detector hears sound waves produced by the pressured material and relays the information to a specialist. It is a non-destructive test that can also identify defects in manufacturing processes, such as porosity and blowholes.
Leak Testing Techniques
There are many different ways to perform leak testing. Some methods are more complex and time-consuming, but all provide the same result: confirming that a product has no holes or cracks that would allow liquids or gases to escape.
The test method will depend on the function for which a system or part was initially designed. The chemical that the system will convey or store also plays a role. Different meanings have different molecule sizes, so the test method must account for these differences.
For example, medical applications like syringes have stringent leak testing requirements that ensure the needle is sealed tightly to prevent contamination and will only hold the intended amount of medication. Other products tested for leaks include cellular phone batteries, water bottles, and other portable consumer products. In addition to electronic pressure testing, helium leak testing is an effective way to find more minor leaks in larger volume systems.
Leak Test Equipment
Many objects we use daily, such as food containers, kitchen appliances, and consumer electronics, are sealed with various materials. These materials have varying characteristics that will impact the test method used to determine whether or not an object is leak tight.
In the case of medical devices like pacemakers, minor leaks can have fatal consequences for patients. Hence, these and all other devices that generate and transport pressurized fluids must adhere to strict quality standards.
To ensure that the product meets these strict standards, it must undergo thorough leak testing regularly. To do so, a non-destructive testing (NDT) instrument is required. The best leak testers can detect and locate minor leaks using air, mass flow, differential pressure decay, helium in accumulation or vacuum chambers, and tracer gas testing.
