There are different ways to detect leakage with our TAPIR. The so-called spray test is suitable for components under vacuum. And the sniffing leak detection for components under pressure. The means of detection is the tracer gas helium or hydrogen.
The test methods are easy to perform and deliver accurate results, making TAPIR the perfect addition to your vacuum process.
Spray test
(components under vacuum)
The so-called spray test is the ideal test method for components under vacuum. This measurement principle has the highest sensitivity of all available methods. Air is removed from the test object that is suspected to have a leak, and TAPIR is connected through a flange. A test object can range from a vacuum furnace to a pipeline, a container, or other pieces of equipment. Helium or hydrogen is sprayed onto the outer surface of the test object with a spray gun kit (see figure 1). In case of a leakage, the incoming molecules are drawn in by the integrated turbomolecular vacuum pump of TAPIR together with its backing pump. The molecules enter an analyzer cell, which detects the tracer gas atoms.
Sniffing leak detection
(components under pressure)
The sniffing leak detection is the perfect method for components under pressure. Helium or hydrogen is pumped into a test object, such as a piece of equipment, a pipeline, or a container, increasing the internal pressure. A sniffer probe, a tool designed to detect and locate leaks, can be purchased as an accessory and connected to our TAPIR. A service technician slowly and systematically guides the sniffer probe over the test object (see figure 2), just like a metal detector, only it’s searching for traces of helium or hydrogen. In the event of a leak, escaping tracer gas atoms are detected. And the leak can be localized precisely.
Integral leak detection
The spray test and sniffing leak detection can both be used for an integral leak detection test. Here, the test object is put inside a vessel, such as a plastic film or a rigid container (illustrated in grey in figure 3 and 4).
During integral sniffing leak detection, the test object is filled with helium (1). If there is a leak and helium starts to escape, it is captured in the vessel. The sniffing probe determines the increase in helium concentration over time and measures the leakage rate (2). This test is carried out at atmospheric pressure.
On the other hand, integral spray tests are performed under vacuum. The test object is connected to the leak detector and placed inside a vessel (3). To ensure precise test conditions and accurate results, the vessel is evacuated and filled with a defined quantity of helium. If there is a leak, then helium will penetrate the test object due to the difference in pressure. The leak detector measures the amount of helium inside the test object and determines the leakage rate.