Examples of Applications | Leak Rate (mbar·l/sec) | Time for one 2mm bubble to form | Method | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Charge air coolers, exhaust systems, injector tips, pneumatics |
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24 bubbles per second – bubble stream | Charge product with gas, allow time to stabilise and check for pressure drop. Simple and cost effective for small components with relatively high leak rates which are not temperature sensitive. |
Pressure Decay |
Taps, domestic radiators, automotive radiators, automotive heater cores |
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2.4 bubbles per second – slow bubble stream | ||
Heater cores, charge air coolers, radiators |
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4 seconds per bubble, sporadic bubbles can be identified with care | Innovative technique using helium tracer gas but inside an enclosure so that the accumulation of helium is measured. The advantages of non-temperature dependence and better sensitivity of hard vacuum system at a much lower cost. |
Accumulation |
Alloy wheels, shock absorbers, EGR coolers |
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50 seconds per bubble, technician only with lighting | ||
Petrol tanks, condensers, evaporators, refrigeration, compressors |
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8.49 bubbles per hour – in practise the hole usually blocks | Using a sniff test probe to measure leak rates at specific joints or connections. Ideal for checking assembled systems where components have already been tested or products with defined leak points. Helium or multi-gas systems offered. |
Sniff Testing |
SF 6 switch gear, gas meters, air bags, butane filled components |
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0.85 bubbles per hour – in practise the hole usually blocks | ||
Virus containment, fire extinguishers, aerospace industry, pharma/medical packaging |
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2.04 bubbles per day | The part is tested inside a hard vacuum chamber with a helium mass spectrometer. Checks all joints with very high levels of sensitivity and reliability – the standard method for all leaks below 1.0E-3 mbar·l/s |
Hard Vacuum Helium Leak Testing |
Nuclear fuel rods, battery cells |
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6.11 bubbles per month | ||
High vacuum components, high integrity valves for toxic media, bio-medical products |
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7.44 bubbles per year |