skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Ultrasonic techniques for detecting helium leaks.

Journal Article · · Sens. Actuators B

We have examined two ultrasonic techniques for their applications in helium leak detectors. In one technique, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device is used to detect helium gas through changes of thermal conductivity in helium/air mixtures. The second technique measures variations of sound speed (SS) in such mixtures. Sensitivities and detection limits of both techniques were predicted with simple models and verified by measurements. The SAW sensor and the SS techniques can detect helium leaks as small as 10{sup -4} and 10{sup -5} cm{sup 3}/s, respectively.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
OUS
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
942702
Report Number(s):
ANL/ET/JA-33846; SABCEB; TRN: US200922%%571
Journal Information:
Sens. Actuators B, Vol. 71, Issue 3 ; Dec. 1, 2000; ISSN 0925-4005
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
ENGLISH