The pressure decay leak test, or PDLT, can be used to find small leaks in any type of vessel. This test involves applying and maintaining pressure within the vessel while monitoring the pressure over time; if it drops, this indicates that there’s a leak present somewhere in the system.
The purpose of this article is to outline how you can get the most out of your pressure decay leak test by following these five helpful tips. These tips will help you to achieve better results, spend less time on your testing, and save money on repair costs at the same time.
What Is A Pressure Decay Leak Test?
A pressure decay leak test is a way to use non-destructive methods to detect leaks in pipes, vessels, and containers by monitoring changes in fluid pressure. When a leak develops, fluid begins to flow out at a faster rate.
This causes reduced pressure within the container and results in an increase in the rate at which gas flows out of the valve on top of the instrument. Due to its ability to identify both wide and pinhole leaks, it can be an important detection method for any system containing pressurised fluids or gases.
What Are the Benefits?
Leaks happen. It’s inevitable. However, we don’t have to accept them. They are simply an inconvenience and create needless waste and frustration.
Thankfully, with a little knowledge and effort, we can get leaks under control – or even avoid them together. Here are some tips for a successful pressure decay leak test:
- Give the item time to fill with water before you start testing
- Check that your tube is well-secured to your air regulator; if it’s not, you might notice small bubbles coming out of one side while testing
- Be careful! Gas leaks are very dangerous, and please keep your equipment away from open flames or other ignition sources during tests.
“Rules of Thumb” For Pressure Decay Testing
– Run your pressure decay test at a flow rate of 4 SCFM. For larger vessels, you can use a higher flow rate, such as 8 SCFM.
– Keep the heated enclosure between 110°F and 130°F to ensure accurate measurements.
– Pressurize your vessel up to 75 PSI and monitor pressure at an interval of 15 minutes or less until you find a pressure loss, typically within 10 minutes.
How Does It Work?
A pressure decay leak test is a way to find small leaks in your home that cause an inflated water or gas bill. It does this by using sound waves and soap bubbles to detect these types of leaks. If a leak is detected, one will see some movement on the graph, indicating where it is coming from and how big it is.
When performing this type of test, be sure to use the appropriate amount of air pressure so as not to blow any holes in your product. When checking for leaks, it’s important to pay attention to what happens at low pressures because low pressures often indicate slow leaks that may go unnoticed otherwise.
Take care when carrying tanks around – make sure they’re properly secured and don’t carry anything over the top of them or place heavy objects on top of them as they could become punctured and leak gas out.
