Helium Leak Test for heat exchanger

[Arty_pin]

Hi,
I would like to have Helium leak test (with mass spectrometer detector) for vertical heat exchanger tube but I am not very sure how much pressure I need to use ?
Per ASME Section V Article 10, I should test it at pressure "not greater than 25% of design pressure" while test pressure is "at or above operating pressure" in ASTM E499.

I am not sure whether ASTM E499 is applicable to heat exchanger or not.

Please help me. Thank you in advance.

 

[JR97]

Arty pin,

The pressure you need for the Helium leak test is dependent on which technique you will be using. Based on your brief description it sounds like a hood type test would be most applicable. You just need 1 atmosphere differential across your boundary for that technique. If you would be using a detector probe, then a higher pressure could be applicable.

JR97

 

[Arty_pin]

thank you for your suggestion. I will use detector probe technique and is planning to use approx. 3 barg differential.

Thank you