Vacuum leaks
Vacuum (or ingress) leaks are notoriously difficult to locate. Very often, systems need to be completely dismantled and then re-assembled in an effort to try and ascertain exactly where the troublesome leak is.
These types of leaks can cause a lot of problems across many different industries – from power stations through to dairies. Freeze driers, condensers, turbines and distillation columns are all prone to leakage, and this can affect product quality, safety and even cause loss of production.
Gross vacuum leaks are best detected using ultrasound detection. This method is very quick and the equipment is often simple to use. The technology works because ultrasound is created as a fluid moves from high pressure (ambient) through to low pressure (vacuum vessel).
The smaller leaks, however, can be found by using portable helium leak detectors. Helium is sprayed over the suspected areas, and the vacuum pump exhaust is monitored for helium particles. For the really minute leaks, helium mass spectrometers are commonly called in, but these instruments aren't very portable, and can't be efficiently used to find the medium-sized or gross leaks.
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