Refrigerant Leak Detection Method

In summer, refrigerant leakage is the most common fault in the use of refrigeration systems. Some refrigerants need to be added once a year, and some may be added once every two months. Refrigerant leakage can easily cause environmental pollution, and increase maintenance costs and time. Next, the air-cooled chiller manufacturer will tell you how to conduct refrigerant leak detection.

1. Visual leak detection

When oil stains are found somewhere in the system, this may be a leakage point. Visual leak detection is simple and easy, without cost, but it has major drawbacks. Unless the system suddenly breaks a large leak and the system leaks liquid colored media, the visual leak detection cannot be located because the leak is usually very small.

2. Soapy water leak detection

Fill the system with nitrogen at a pressure of 10-20kg/cm2, and then apply soapy water to all parts of the system. The bubbling point is the leakage point. This method is currently the most common leak detection method, but the human arm is limited, the human vision is limited, and often no leaks can be seen.

3. Nitrogen water leak detection

Fill the system with nitrogen at a pressure of 10-20kg/cm2 and immerse the system in water. The bubbling point is the leakage point. This method is essentially the same as the previous soapy water leak detection method. Although the cost is low, it has obvious shortcomings: the water used for leak detection easily enters the system, causing the materials in the system to be corroded, and the high-pressure gas may also cause damage to the system. Large damages and labor intensity during leak detection are also high, which increases the cost of maintenance and repair.

4. Halogen lamp leak detection

Ignite the leak detection lamp and hold the air tube on the halogen lamp. When the nozzle is close to the system leak, the flame color changes to purple-blue, which means that there is a large amount of leakage. This method produces open flames, which is not only dangerous, but the combination of open flames and refrigerants will produce harmful gases, and it is also difficult to accurately locate leaks. So this method is hardly used by anyone now. If you can see it, it may be in the stage of a non-civilized society.

5. Gas differential pressure leak detection

Using the air pressure difference inside and outside the system, the pressure difference is amplified by the sensor, and the leak detection result is expressed in the form of digital or sound or electronic signals. This method can only "qualitatively" know whether the system is leaking and cannot accurately find the leak.