• Series 20 Standard Leak Testing Fixture
• Series 40 Standard Leak Testing Fixture
• Twin Station Series 40 Standard Leak Testing Fixture
• Series 40 Standard Leak Test Machine with Interchangeable Fixtures

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• Fuel Rail Leak & Burst Testing
• Fuel Tank Leak Testing
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• Plastic Sump Pipe Leak Test & Inserter
• Leak Test, Flexible Facility
• Leak Test Facility for Water Valves
• Medical Device Leak Testing
• Medical Filter Leak Test Machine
• Medical Shower Head Leak Test Facility
• Small Medical Device Leak Test
• V6 Engine Leak Testing
• Vauxhall Leak Test Machine
• Water Submersal Leak Detection
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Helium leak testing for fuel tanks

      mass spectrometer dry test

TQC has specialised in the automatic helium leak testing of components for many years. Fuel tanks have previously been regarded as a leak testing problem - the volume is unstable and too large for air decay testing. Water dunk testing is operator dependent and causes longer term damage to the unpainted tank. Neither method will detect a fine vapour leak.

     Quantifiable leak testing
     Calibration to BS5750
     Fast, clean and dry test
     High sensitivity
     Automated pass/fail limits
     No drying costs and no tank water damage

Now proven by several installations, TQC is able to supply Fuel Tank Leak Testing using Helium. The system provides a fast reliable dry test with numerical leak results. The sensitivity is equivalent to a "dunk tank bubble" once in several days. Connections to the tank are made automatically, the system is self-monitering and the operator may be unskilled. The system is suitable for leak testing metal or plastic tanks.

Typical specification for a 75 litre plastic fuel tank is:

Description   

	The fuel tank is placed in a supporting cradle which slides into a stainless steel chamber.
	Operator controls close a safety shielded chamber door.
	The sequence is automatically started by the door closure.
	The chamber and tank are pumped down together to a pressure of 180mbar, at which point the tank is isolated from the chamber.
	The chamber pressure is further reduced to less than 0.1 mbar, during which time the tank pressure is monitored to check for a gross leak.
	A 10% concentration of helium is dosed into the tank, allowed to disperse, and the chamber is sampled for leakage using a mass spectrometer.
	After the test, the helium is evacuated, the chamber and tank are vented together to atmosphere, and the door is opened automatically. Results are then logged for SPC analysis.

Vehicle Fuel Systems: Legislation

Total vehicle and component assemblies are subject to a variety of fuel loss legislation requirements. Both US and EC evaporative emmissions requirements are the subject of continued revision and it is advised that the current USA Californian certification standard be adopted as the basis for vehicle component and assembly production acceptance.

For a printer friendly sheet on the fuel tank leak test please visit our datasheets area