The smallest leak in components can end up ruining the reputation of your company by compromising the performance of your product. Product integrity is an integral part of every organization whose goal is to offer its clients quality products that are safe and reliable and impact positively on the company. Industrial leak detection should not be taken for granted; hence, firms sought to use the right leak detection equipment and method.
1. Using the wrong leak detection method
The bubble test method always gives false results when testing for leak detection because it is assumed that there are no leaks when the bubble doesn’t notice any bubbles. Industries should use more precise sniffer methods of detecting leaks instead of the bubble method to yield better results. The leak rate should be used to determine whether a leak detection method is suitable for a specific application. For instance, the pressure decay method is used to test for leaks in plastic parts.
2. Ignoring temperature changes
Pressure decay or differential pressure measurement methods of leak detection are affected by temperature fluctuations because they are an indication of severe issues. Notably, small temperature changes can affect the measurable leak rate by a considerable magnitude. Also, other factors that affect the size of a leak include expansion behavior of the material being tested and its temperature. Consequently, some industries carry out leak detection tests in climatic chambers.
3. Testing using contaminated parts
All test methods should ensure that they test for leaks using unused test pieces. The risks of having small leaks clogging in components that are filled with water or oil or those already in operation are high because of the contamination. Industries should ensure that they clean the test piece before conducting a leak test. After you clean it, ensure that you dry the piece to prevent clogging potential leaks in the cleaning fluid.
4. Testing at the wrong stage in the production process
You need to be careful when choosing the most preferred point in the production process where you want to perform a leak detection test. It is advisable to test individual subcomponents for possible leaks before you assemble the components. For instance, you should test the transmission’s tightness before you gather the transmission.
5. Neglecting test system maintenance
If an industry doesn’t measure any leak rates for days or weeks, then it could mean that the quality of production is excellent or the test system is not functional. Industries should ensure that they check on all the inter-connect points, test piece brackets, and hoses to ensure that they are functioning as required. Also, make sure that tracer gas systems are repaired correctly.
6. Fluctuating test pressures
You should make sure that the test piece is at the same constant pressure especially when using the tracer gas method to get the correct and reliable leak rates. However, sometimes you will have to carry out evacuation before filling the test pieces. It enables the tracer gas to reach every possible leak.
