Standard practice for leaks using bubble emission techniques

This standard is issued with the fixed designation E515; the number immediately following
designation indicates the year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of the last one.
review. A number in parentheses indicates the year of the last reapproval. An epsilon
superscript (') indicates an editorial change since the last review or reapproval.

1 Scope
1.1 This practice covers procedures for detecting or locating leaks, or both, using techniques.
of bubble emission. A quantitative measure is not practical. The normal sensitivity limit.
for this testing method it is 4.5 × 10‐10 mol / s (1 × 10‐5 Std cm3 / s).
1.2 Two techniques are described:
1.2.1 Immersion technique, and
1.2.2 Liquid application technique.
NOTE 1 - Additional information is available in the Code of boilers and vessels at
ASME pressure, Section V, Article 10 - Leak Testing and Guide E479.
1.3 The values indicated in SI units must be considered standard. Other units are not included.
units of measurement in this standard.
1.4 This standard does not intend to address security issues, if any, associated with its use.
It is the user's responsibility under this standard to establish appropriate health and safety practices.
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations before their use.

3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: to know the definitions of the terms used in this method of
test, refer to Terminology E1316, Section E.

4. Summary of the practice

4.1 The basic principle of this method consists of creating a pressure differential across a
escape and observe the bubbles in a liquid medium located on the low-pressure side. The
the sensitivity of the method depends on the pressure differential, the gas used to create the
differential and the liquid used for the test. As long as the pressure difference can be
to maintain through the area to be tested, this method can be used.

5. Application base
5.1 The following articles are subject to a contractual agreement between the parties that use or
they refer to this testing method:
5.2 Staff Ratings
5.2.1 If specified in the contractual agreement. The staff who conduct the examinations for this
the testing method must be qualified according to a standard or qualification practice
personal NDT recognized at the national or international level as ANSI / ASNT CP-189, SNT-TC-1A,
NAS-410 or a similar document certified by the employer or certification agency, according to
correspond. The applicable practice or standard used and its review will be identified in the agreement.
contractual.
5.3 Qualification of non-destructive agencies: if specified in the contractual agreement, the agencies
The END will be graded and evaluated as described in practice E543. The applicable edition of the
Practice E543 will be specified in the contractual agreement.
5.4 Reexamination of the repaired / reprocessed items: the reexamination of the items
repaired / reworked are not covered in this test method, they will be specified in the agreement
contractual.

6. Meaning and use

6.1 The immersion technique is often used to locate leaks in sealed containers.
Leaks in a container can be seen independently. The leak size can be
approximate by the size of the bubble. It is not suitable for measuring the total leak of the system.
6.2 The liquid film technique is widely applied to components and systems that cannot
easily submerge and is used to quickly locate leaks. A can be made
estimates the size of the leak based on the type of bubbles formed, but the technique does not
it is suitable for measuring the leak rate. It can be used with a vacuum chamber for testing
containers that cannot be pressurized or where access is only possible from one side.
6.3 Accuracy: this practice is not aimed at measuring leak rates, but rather at locating leaks.
about the basis of going or not going. Its precision for locating leaks of 4.5 × 10‐10 mol / s (1 × 10‐4 Std cm3
For sizes 2 and larger, the accuracy for locating smaller leaks depends on the
operator skill.
6.4 Repeatability: based on go, no go, the duplicate tests by the same operator do not
They must vary by more than 65% for leaks of 4.5 × 10‐9 mol / s (1 × 10‐4 Std cm3 / s).
6.5 Reproducibility: based on go, no go, the duplicate tests carried out by others
Trained operators should not vary by more than 10% for leaks of 4.5 × 10⁻⁹ mol / s (1 × 10⁻)
4 Std cm3 / s) 2 y larger.

7. Interferences
7.1 The contamination of the surface of the test sample, if the small submerged parts,
in the form of grease, oxide, welding slag, etc., can be a source of bubbles that
provide a false leak indication. Test samples should be thoroughly cleaned to
avoid the rejection of acceptable items.
7.2 The contaminated detection fluid or one that foams during application may cause bubbles.
false superficialities in the test sample.
7.3 An excessive vacuum on the low-pressure side when using the vacuum difference technique may
make the detection fluid boil.
7.4 If the component to be tested has parts made of stainless steel, nickel or
chrome alloys, the test fluid must have a sulfur and halogen content of less
of 10 ppm of each one.
7.5 The immediate application of high pressure can cause large leaks to be lost in the
liquid application technique.
7.6 If the component to be tested has parts made of polyethylene or structural plastic, the
test fluid must not
promote environmental stress cracking (E.S.C).
7.7 If the test fluid is to be used in oxygen systems, it must meet the requirements of
MIL-L-25567D.

8. Immersion technique
8.1 Application: this technique is applicable to test specimens whose physical size allows for
immersion in a fluid container when the test sample can be sealed before the
test.
8.2 Techniques to create a pressure differential:
8.2.1 Pressurize the components of the Test Sample Seal and apply high pressure, or
if accessible, increase internal pressure for testing purposes.
8.2.2 Elevated temperature test liquid: heat the test fluid to a temperature
that does not exceed the maximum nominal temperature of the test sample. This will cause the
gas expansion within the test sample, creating a pressure differential. This technique
it is generally limited to use in very small parts.
8.2.3 Vacuum technique: immerse the test sample in the test fluid and then place the
test fluid container in the vacuum chamber. Reduce the pressure in the chamber until a
point that does not allow the test liquid to boil, thus creating a pressure differential. This
The technique is normally used in very small parts.
8.3 Test liquids used in the immersion technique: the following can be used
test fluids, as long as they are not harmful to the component being tested:
8.3.1 Water: it must be treated with a wetting agent up to 1/3 by volume to reduce the
surface tension and promote bubble growth.
8.3.2 Methyl alcohol (technical grade), undiluted: not suitable for the hot bath technique or
the vacuum technique.
8.3.3 Ethylene glycol (Technical grade), undiluted.
8.3.4 Mineral oil: it may be necessary to degrease the test samples. This is the fluid
more suitable for the vacuum technique.
8.3.5 Fluorocarbons or glycerin-fluorocarbons are not recommended for applications.
stainless steel nuclear
8.4 Procedures:
8.4.1 Pressurized test sample:
[Link] Sealed samples at high pressures: place the test sample or the area that is being
testing in the selected test fluid and observe for a minimum period of 2 minutes.
Interpret a stream of bubbles originating from a single point or two or more as a leak.
bubbles that grow and then release from a single point.
[Link] Very small specimens sealed at ambient or reduced pressures: place the
test sample in a pressure chamber and expose to high pressure. The actual pressure
it depends on the samples. Place the sample in the selected testing fluid within 2
minutes after the extraction of the pressure chamber and observe for a minimum period
a 2-minute interpretation of a current of bubbles that originates from a single escape
dot.
8.4.2 High-temperature test liquid: place the test sample in the fluid
test that stabilizes and maintains at a high temperature at a temperature that depends
from the sample. Observe if there is a current of bubbles that originates from a single point or two or
more bubbles that grow and then release from a single point. Interpret either as indicating
a leak. The observation time will depend on the internal volume.
from the sample and the materials of the box of the enclosure. The duration must be sufficient
to allow the pressure to increase to a pressure that depends on the sample.
8.4.3 Vacuum technique: place the test sample in a container of the testing fluid.
selected and placed the container in a vacuum chamber with observation ports. Reduce
the pressure in the vacuum chamber and observe if there is a stream of bubbles originating from a
only one point or two or more bubbles that grow and then release from a single point. The amount of
The empty used will depend on the test fluid and should be the maximum that can be obtained without
that the test fluid boils. This technique is also applicable to unsealed components or
sample sections using the device shown in Fig. 1.
9. Liquid application technique
9.1 Application: this technique is applicable to any test sample in which it can be created
a pressure difference in the area to be examined. An example of this technique is the application of
leak testing solutions for pressurized gas joints. It is very useful in piping systems,
pressure vessels, tanks, spheres, pumps or other large devices in which the techniques
Immersion is not practical.
9.2 Location of bubble test liquid: apply the test liquid on the low side
Pressure of the area to be examined and then examine the area for bubbles in the fluid.
Be careful when applying the fluid to avoid bubble formation. Flow the solution into the area.
of testing. The joints must be completely covered. The pressure difference must
to create before applying the fluid, to avoid the obstruction of small leaks.
9.3 Type of bubble test fluid: a commercial fluid solution can be used for
Leak tests. The use of soap or household detergents and water is not considered a fluid.
satisfactory leak test for a bubble test, due to lack of sensitivity
due to foam masking. The fluid must be able to be applied bubble-free in order to
a bubble should appear only in a leak. The selected fluid should not bubble except in
answer to
escape.
9.4 Vacuum technique: place a vacuum box (see Fig. 2) over the test fluid
bubbles. In testing equipment, such as floors and ceilings of storage tanks, place the
vacuum box over a section of the weld seam and evacuate to 3 psi [20.68 kPa] (or what
requires the applicable standard) and maintain them for a minimum time of 15 s.