Leak Testing of Heat Exchanger Provided by SGS for the First Time

June 2, 2010 - PRLog -- SGS Korea was awarded a contract to provide Leak Testing of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet in a refinery in Ulsan, Korea on March 16, 2010. This Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) method was used for the very first time on a heat exchanger.

The SGS team of four experts successfully performed Leak Testing (link to: http://www.kr.sgs.com/srs/special_leak_test_srs/helium_leak_test_srs.htm?selen=1&) of a heat exchanger tube and tube-tube sheet using helium gas during the two days of testing. 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 in Non-Destructive Testing (http://www.ndt.sgs.com/) 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.

In addition to Leak Testing of heat exchangers, SGS provides Heat Exchanger Life Assessment System (HELAS), 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.

For more information please contact:

SGS Industrial Services
Byeongho Cho
Non-destructive Testing Services
Team Manager / Maintenance Test Team

t: +82 (0)52 208 6956
f: +82 (0)52 208 6957

Email: industrial.pr@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/ndt

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The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, with 59,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.