News

∆P gauge quickly spots leakage

Jan. 16, 2014

Fluid-power assemblies must be tested for leakage. The three traditional, low-tech approaches for doing so are:

Fluid power assemblies must be tested for leakage. The three traditional, low-tech approaches for doing so are:

Filling the assembly with compressed air, then slopping soapy water on it to see if bubbles reveal leaks.
Immersing the whole assembly in a water bath, then pressurizing it with air — again, watching for bubbles.
Pressurizing the sealed assembly and watching a gauge for pressure decay.

At best, these methods are cumbersome and time-consuming. At worst, they add drying and corrosion problems. All interrupt production flow. A simple, high-speed leakage test, suitable for production work, can be assembled from a differential-pressure gauge, a pair of two-way valves, and a vessel that is known to be leak-free. The circuit is shown in the accompanying illustration.

Hydraulicspneumatics Com Sites Hydraulicspneumatics com Files Uploads 2014 01 Leak Testing

With the test assembly in place, valve A is opened to pressurize both volumes. The gauge will read zero. Then valves A and B are closed. Because the reference volume holds pressure, any leakage from the test assembly immediately results in a measurable differential that registers on the gauge.

The leakage rate can be calculated from the formula:

L = (∆P × V_S)/(P_A × t),

where L = flow, in scfm; ∆P = differential pressure, in psi; V_S= assembly volume, in ft³; P_A = atmospheric pressure, in psi; and t = time, in minutes.

Joe Gordon, chief engineer, Differential Pressure Plus Inc., Branford, Conn., suggested this test configuration. Call him at (203) 481-2545 for more information, or visit www.differentialpressure.com.