Leak testing of heat exchanger for the first time
04 June 2010
SGS successfully performed leak testing of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet in a refinery in Ulsan, Korea. This Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method was used for the very first time on a heat exchanger.
Leak testing of heat exchanger for the first time
SGS Korea was assigned a contract to provide Leak Testing of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet in a refinery in Ulsan, Korea. SGS used this Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method for the very first time on a heat exchanger.
During the two days of testing, the SGS team of four experts successfully performed Leak Testing of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet using helium gas. The gas was introduced into the internal space of the heat exchanger and over pressurized. Consequently, the gas flew through welding flaws, cracks or pin holes and was sucked into a sniper attached to a helium mass spectrometer. Following the ionization of the gas in the ion chamber by an electronic beam, the helium ion collector gathered the helium ions and sent an amplified signal to the indicator. The leakage could be measured by the signal strength.
Due to SGS's extensive experience and competence in Non-Destructive Testing, the leakage in the welding area of the heat exchanger was successfully identified and reported to the client. The successful completion of the project resulted in SGS receiving further contracts for NDT services from this client.
For the very first time, SGS applied Leak Testing, which had been limited to LNG carriers until now, to a completely new field. As Leak Testing of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet proved to be successful, SGS will expand its NDT technologies to new industrial fields.
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