On March 16, 2010, SGS Korea (link to: http://www.kr.sgs.com/home_kr_v2.htm?selen=1&) was assigned a contract to provide Leak Testing of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet in a refinery in Ulsan, Korea.
During the two days of testing, the SGS team of four experts successfully performed Leak Testing (link to: http://www.kr.sgs.co/srs/special_leak_test_srs/helium_leak_test_srs.htm?selen=1&) 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 (www.sgs.com/ndt), 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.
SGS applied Leak Testing (link to: http://www.sgs.com/ndt-leak-testing-of-lng-carrier-tanks?serviceId=10158797&lobId=5550), 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.
In addition to Leak Testing of heat exchangers, SGS offers Heat Exchanger Life Assessment System (HELAS) (link to: http://www.sgs.com/ndt-heat-exchanger-life-assessment-system?serviceId=10160491&lobId=5550), which is based on the measurement of ultrasonic immersion length, converted into the corrosion depth inside cooling water or air fin type tubes.
About SGS Industrial Services
As the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, SGS offers a complete package of inspection in and around heat exchangers, in order to create a full set of data which is easy accessible and ready for follow-up. Several inspection and testing technologies and tools can be applied depending on your preferences and technical requirements.
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