Help regarding fugitive emission type testing
Help regarding fugitive emission type testing
(OP)
Hi all.
I really hope someone has more knowledge about fugitive emission testing than I do. I work for a South African based ball valve manufacturer. Im a year out of university and the company has asked me to take charge of there fugitive emission 'program'. All that the 'program' is, is a few discussions and the fact we would be testing to the ISO 15848-1. Ive got a good understanding of what the standard is asking for, the equipment needed, test procedure and so on. I have a few concerns when it comes to the leak detector. 1) Im thinking of using the Pfeiffer vacuum A560 SmartTest helium leak detector. We are aiming for a tightness class A so will use the vacuum method to measure stem leakage. This leads to problem 2. The valve needs to be heated and the leak detector can only suck in helium at a certain temp (way below valve temp), im assuming the leak detector will pull helium at a temperature higher than what it can handle. What can i do about this that still conforms to the standard?
If there are any other pointers and tips one can give regarding the ISO 15848-1 testing, it would be greatly appreciated.
I really hope someone has more knowledge about fugitive emission testing than I do. I work for a South African based ball valve manufacturer. Im a year out of university and the company has asked me to take charge of there fugitive emission 'program'. All that the 'program' is, is a few discussions and the fact we would be testing to the ISO 15848-1. Ive got a good understanding of what the standard is asking for, the equipment needed, test procedure and so on. I have a few concerns when it comes to the leak detector. 1) Im thinking of using the Pfeiffer vacuum A560 SmartTest helium leak detector. We are aiming for a tightness class A so will use the vacuum method to measure stem leakage. This leads to problem 2. The valve needs to be heated and the leak detector can only suck in helium at a certain temp (way below valve temp), im assuming the leak detector will pull helium at a temperature higher than what it can handle. What can i do about this that still conforms to the standard?
If there are any other pointers and tips one can give regarding the ISO 15848-1 testing, it would be greatly appreciated.





RE: Help regarding fugitive emission type testing
RE: Help regarding fugitive emission type testing
Moreover, I’d suggest to compare the ISO 15848-1 Tightness Class A maximum allowable helium leak rate limit for your valves (in mbar*l/s or equivalent units) with the accuracy of your measurement system (unluckily, the ones who write ISO standards about valves do not read ISO standards about metrology…!)
I would also suggest to have NDE Operators qualified for Leak Testing (LT or MSLT) according to ASNT SNT-TC-1A , ISO 9712 and/or EN 473 (even if this is not explicitly required by the reference ISO 15848-1 standard): a level 2 could be enough to carry out the tests, but a level 3 could for sure help with your doubts and prepare a reasonable testing procedure.
Hope this helps,
RE: Help regarding fugitive emission type testing
We would still want to do the production testing however. Its been suggested that hand held leak detectors would be sufficient. I feel they would be sensitive enough but no accurate enough. I think the ISO standard calls for about 2.5% accuracy. Do you think a hand held unit leak detector would be sufficient or would it be better to get a portable bench top leak detector? (I also need to keep price in mind)
RE: Help regarding fugitive emission type testing
for some type testing Companies’ address, see thread408-114236: Institutes/laboratoria for valve testing within this Forum.
Before choosing your mass spectrometer helium leak detector, I’d suggest to take a look at the various Project and/or Customer specifications: sometimes they include a positive list of the approved equipment (see, for example: Shell MESC SPE 77/312…).
Even if you probably know it already, another basic reference worth mentioning are the various APPENDIXES of the ASME B&PV Code, Sect. V, Article 10, of course.
Ciao and… good luck!
‘NGL
RE: Help regarding fugitive emission type testing