HeSNIFFER, the solution for in-line leak testing in the HVAC-R industry
Marposs has a strong focus on the HVAC-R industry, giving a great commitment to comply with increasingly restrictive regulations on emissions and the incoming green technologies. For this reason, it has developed a new standard product for leak testing. The Helium Leak Test is the most powerful in-line quality control operation, unaffected by variables such as temperature or part volume and not reliant on human inspection (bubble testing). It is based on mass spectrometer analysis of the trace gas helium.
The first module is the basic HeSNIFFER, as the sniffing test is the simplest solution applied. It allows manual operations, it is designed with a compact and portable structure and is already a complete detection module ready to use. By using this test method out-of-process or in-process, you can immediately improve production quality. This bench consists of a spectrometer solution with a sniffing probe, vacuum pump, PLC with display and a closed cabinet equipped with wheels. It is possible to detect leaks up to the acceptable limit for water or steam carried by the component, or to check the entire refrigeration assembly, where parts have already been tested and only the welds are checked.
The HeSNIFFER module can be easily upgraded whenever placed in the process that requires higher productivity and avoid operator involvement by adding the second module for automated testing. This module consists in a robotic sniffing probe, improving functionality with automatic operations, accurate approach through programmable control of joints routing, multiple routing options via HMI selection and a reference leak to ensure constant calibration checks. The bench includes a suitable base that allows the installation of a fixture for the part to be tested, with tool change can be foreseen.
But what about the parts of the assembly that deal with gas refrigerant? For this purpose, a third module has been designed to be connected to the first module and provide a complete vacuum leak test. It is equipped with a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum pump, along with a manifold of pneumatic components to manage the process. Inside, there is the part fixture connected to each part's vacuum pump, all positioned on a closed cabinet with wheels. The module is connected to the analysis system (spectrometer) though the first module. When quality demands increase and a more reliable leak test method is required, the Vacuum Test Chamber Module transforms the sniffing application into a hard vacuum application. This allows lower leak rate detection, higher accuracy and the ability to handle different parts with internal fixturing.
This is a simple system for checking the tightness of production parts, always with a reliable analysis method, with the flexibility of dedicated modules depending on the part being tested. The modular solutions can be easily implemented to upgrade the measurement method, with the aim of improving both productivity and quality. The customer is supported to proceed step by step, eventually having all three measurement methods available.
These modules have been realised specifically designed for Expo Chillventa, with the design solution prepared accordingly. Modules for sale may differ slightly.