[SBE] Ultrasonic Leak Detection

[Bob Reite]

Helium is for all intents and purposes inert.

Chris Hoopes wrote:

> There is a helium detector that you can rent. You could charge the line with helium, and use a helium sniffer. Be careful, helium is combustible, and of course, it rises.

>    

>   Chris Hoopes

> 

> Chris Spacone <cspacone at socal.rr.com> wrote:

>   Maybe the guys on the list can help: 

> 

> 

> 

> I would like to avoid pouring lots of soapy water all over waveguide

> flanges, couplings and the rest of the system to find a nagging leak or

> leaks. Recently we had some construction done that impacted our uplink room.

> It became necessary to remove the house air from the waveguide

> pressurization manifold that fed three sections running to separate dishes.

> To replace the air source we purchased a 200 bottle of dry nitrogen and the

> related regulators, bits and pieces. Of course, after hooking it up we

> discovered that there was a leak in the manifold that had probably been

> there forever. After finding the manifold leaks using the 'soapy water'

> method I came away from the exercise with very clean, lemony fresh smelling

> hands and a really nasty case of potty mouth.

> 

> 

> 

> I still have leaks but it appears that they are after the pressure gauges

> feeding the waveguide sections. Three of the sections come out of the

> switching plumbing located in the top of the rack (of course it is above the

> HPA's, where else!) and feed elliptical sections with flanges and pressure

> windows. I recognize that I can shotgun the problem but I'd rather have a

> more deterministic way of resolving the problem. I looked into something

> called ultrasonic leak detection. As I understand it, the process uses a

> microphone that picks up the ultrasonic noises created by the turbulence of

> a leaking gas. This noise is amplified, heterodyned and presented to an

> operator where they get some kind of aural and / or visual indication of the

> location and magnitude of the leak.

> 

> 

> 

> Here is the question(s): Anybody have any experience with ultrasonic leak

> detectors? If so are they a vast improvement over shotgunning the problem?

> Any recommendations for a source / manufacturer? Perils / pitfalls?

> 

> 

> 

> And one last: In LA is there any local shop or goodguy that can provide

> waveguide bits and pieces? I don't necessarily mind dealing with the 'big

> vendors' but I really don't need the sales visits and the rest of the hoopla

> that comes with that deal.

> 

> 

> 

> Regards,

> 

> Chris Spacone, KD6OUB

> 

> 

> 

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