Helium Mass Spectrometry is recognised as one of the most sensitive Leak Test Technologies available. Helium is safe and inert, and its small molecular size makes it an ideal trace gas for leak testing. When combined with ION SYSTEMS expertise in turn-key solutions, it becomes an ideal technique to meet the high demands of leak testing in the production environment. Industrial PC control systems allow full data collection facilities with interfacing to any factory network for remote access if required.

Principle of Operation

The component to be tested is loaded into a chamber, which can be sealed so that external influences do not impinge on the test results.

The Chamber is then evacuated to a very low level of pressure (depending on leak rate to be detected). During this phase, large leaks can easily be identified to avoid unnecessary loss of helium trace gas.

Once the chamber reaches the required level of vacuum, the part can be pressurised to the required level, with the tracer gas (this Helium/Air mixture can be generated on board the system to further reduce costs of specialised gas mixtures).

Even the smallest leakage of helium is instantly detected and measured, for immediate Pass /Fail identification, when all gas is safely removed from the part, allowing the operator to remove it ready for attaching an appropriate ‘coded’ label. The Helium Detection System can also be utilised off-line to enable accurate pin point location of the leak path for re-work options.

The Helium Mass Spectrometer

This type of instrument is utilised in many applications where very small leaks need to be detected.

Any gas entering the detector cell are ionised (effectively giving gases an electrical charge). A magnetic field surrounding the chamber deflects these ions, separating them according to their Mass (or molecular weight).

Windows are critically placed within the cell, such that only the selected tracer (Helium) reaches the sensing device. The ionised Helium then creates an electrical current within the sensor, which is directly proportional to the amount of trace gas present (and hence the leak rate).

This type of detector is able to measure leaks as small as 0.000000000001 mb l/s (10-12 cc/s), and by virtue of the way the detector works, is selective to the required tracer.

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