VTPL/HLT/Rev 0

NO. 2/13, PEENYA INDUSTRIAL AREA, BANGALORE-58

PROCEDURE FOR
HELIUM LEAK TESTING OF HYDROGEN OXIDATION SYSTEM
Heavy Water Plant, Kota

MSLD : Mass Spectrometer Leak Detector.

SP

Prepared By
R Sreenivasa Prasad
Service Engineer - VTPL

: Sniffer Probe

Checked/ Reviewed By

Approved By

VTPL/HLT/Rev 0
NO. 2/13, PEENYA INDUSTRIAL AREA, BANGALORE-58

1. Scope
This procedure is applicable for the helium leak testing of Hydrogen Oxidation System
and its components at HWP (Kota)
2. Reference
ASME Section V Article 1 and Article 10 Appendix IV
3. Equipment Details
Instrument
Make:

Model:

Detector (Sniffer) Probe

Make:

Model:

Calibration Standard:
Standard Leak:

Make:

Pressure Gauge:
Range:

Calibration Date:

4. Personal Qualification
The operator should be qualified minimum up to Level II of ASNT/ISNT.
5. Calibration of Equipment
Warm Up: The instrument should be turned on and allowed to warm up
for the minimum 15 mins. prior to calibrating with the
calibrated leak standard.
Calibration: The helium mass spectrometer should be calibrated as per
manufacturers manual to a sensitivity of at least 10 -9 Std
cc/sec by calibrated leak.
6. Testing Procedure
6.1 Connect all Rupture Disc, Safety Valves, and Pressure Transmitters & Pressure gauges
to the system as per the test scheme.
6.2 Pressurize the system with N2 (Inert Gas) up to 1 bar gauge and raise the pressure by
Helium Gas up to 1.7 bar gauge.
6.3 All joints required to be tested should be cleaned with acetone and surface should be
free from oil/grease/dust etc.
Prepared By
R Sreenivasa Prasad
Service Engineer - VTPL

Checked/ Reviewed By

Approved By

VTPL/HLT/Rev 0
NO. 2/13, PEENYA INDUSTRIAL AREA, BANGALORE-58

weld & flange Joints should be wrapped with Plastic/masking tape.

6.5
Prior to testing, the test pressure shall be held for 4 hrs.
6.6
Start the leak detector and calibrate the instrument as per calibration procedure.
Calibration shall be done on every four hours and at the end of the shift or test.
6.7
Connect the probe with leak detector and note down the
background readings as well as detection time required by the
system to detect the standard leak through sniffer probe.
6.8
Start sniffing the joints by puncturing the masking tape from
bottom to top. The probe should be hold in position for time more
than the detection time observed during calibration.
6.9
Any unacceptable indication of leak shall be recorded along with
joint identification and location of leak and the same shall be marked
on the joints with marker also.
6.10 The component shall then be depressurized, and the leak(s)
repaired. After repairs have been made, the repaired area or areas
shall be retested in accordance with the requirements of this
procedure
.
7.0
Acceptance Criteria
Maximum permissible leak rate are as follows:
Weld joints
: 1X10-7 Std cc/sec
Flange/ mechanical joints
: 1X10-7 Std cc/sec
6.4 All

8.0
Report
Result should be reported in the test report format.
9.0
Post Cleaning
After completion of test, masking tape from all the joints should be removed and the
joints should be cleaned with acetone.

Prepared By
R Sreenivasa Prasad
Service Engineer - VTPL

Checked/ Reviewed By

Approved By