Cryogenic leak testing of tube fittings/valves

✍ Scribed by L.X. Jia; D. Moslemian; W.L. Chow

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 656 KB
• Volume: 32
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0011-2275
• DOI: 10.1016/0011-2275(92)90318-5

✦ Synopsis

A high pressure and variable temperature cryogenic leak testing system was conceived and designed in order to conduct leakage testing of pipe fittings/valves in liquid hydrogen supply lines of the space shuttle. The system can create a continuous testing environment of variable temperature, 5.5 K -300 K, and variable pressure, 10 -2 Pa -70 x 105 Pa, with a large sample space, 90 mm diameter x 228 mm length, and at low operating cost. In terms of cryogenic leak testing the system has a special capability for extensive applications. The system comprised a variable temperature cryostat, a high pressure sample chamber, a vacuum pumping station, gas flow control system, pressure and temperature control systems, and leak detecting and measuring systems. A general discussion of cryogenic leak testing methods is also presented.