Leak detection for floating-head heat exchangers – prizes available!
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This post was last edited by cdjh0302 on 2010-1-16 at 15:47. Does anyone know how to detect leaks in the tube bundles of floating-head heat exchangers? Something simple and practical would be great. Thanks; good suggestions will get extra points
Conduct a hydrostatic test to check for leaks. Of course, hydrotesting fixtures are needed. I don’t think there’s any other simple method.
Fill it with water and test the pressure; everything can be seen by checking the pressure. Make sure the water pressure is 1.25 times the operating pressure
At the test tube end, only special tools can be used; there’s no other solution. After testing the pipe ends, it’s no different from pressure testing other heat exchangers.
The water pressure is generally 1.25 times the design pressure, I guess
The pressure testing of floating-head heat exchangers involves one test for the tube side and one test for the shell side; a dummy floating head is required during the tube-side pressure testing.
It is usually a hydrostatic test. There doesn’t seem to be any other way
Fill it with high-pressure helium and use the suction nozzle of a helium mass spectrometer for leak detection; this is the most accurate method, and no further drying is required.
Only pressure testing is possible. It seems there’s no other way.
A flange for pressure testing is fabricated according to the tube box flange; once it is ready, it is cut in half, and then it can be used for pressure testing the tube box. It’s the same principle as the hook loops on the floating head.
For the pressure testing of floating-head heat exchangers, it needs to be done 3 times: the first time, the fitting is used to test both tube ends, followed by testing the tube side and shell side