An enhanced reliability test for heat exchanger tubes -- A helium leak test inline

摘要

One of the non-destructive tests specified by current ASTM standards (A1016/A1016M) for welded tubes is a pneumatic test using air under water or air-pressure differential method. This paper reviews these two leakage testing methods and introduces a new inline helium leak test method developed by Vallourec. The first results obtained by this latter method demonstrate its advantage in substituting and improving on current pneumatic tests in that it has lower detection levels and a higher reliability. In addition, this system bears more resemblance to the final testing methods used on assembled heat exchangers.