How to locate leaks on wing tanks with the Hydrogen Method

Mikael Ekström

norm electronics

18 Voulis st. 10563 Athens Greece(T) 210 3237698 , 2103234988 (F) 2103237780 www.norm.gr sales@norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 2 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Leak locating on wing tanks

› Fuel leaks are often discovered by visual inspection

› Leaks appear in channels in the sealant which means the leak entry point (where you repair) can be far away from the leak exit point (where you spot the leak)

› Backtracing the leak from exit point to entry point is possible when using hydrogen tracer gas (5%H2/95%N2)

› Adixen supplies everything between the leak and the gas bottle to pin-point the leak originand to verify the quality of the repairs.

› Leak locating can be performed by one man alone

› It cuts mean time to repair in half

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 3 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Steps to locate leaks with the H2 method

1. Have the right equipment

› Ex-certified Hydrogen Leak Detector EXTRIMA

› Gas injection tools to suit the leak exit on the aircraft skin

› Injection Pads – for plain surfaces

› Injection Fix Kit – for uneaven surfaces

› Injection Panel – for controlled tracer gas injection

› Gas bottle with H25%/N295% tracer gas

› Repair kit

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 4 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Steps to locate leaks with the H2 method

2. Fasten the gas injection tool over the leak exit

• Clear surface with isopropyl alcohol or similar

• Fasten the Injection Pad or Injection Fix Kit

• Let set for 10 minutes

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 5 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Steps to locate leaks with the H2 method

3. Connect the gasIMPORTANT! Read User’s manual for all steps

1,5 bar

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 6 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Steps to locate leaks with the H2 method

3. Connect the gasIMPORTANT! Read User’s manual for all steps

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 7 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Steps to locate leaks with the H2 method

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 8 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

Steps to locate leaks with the H2 method

4. Locate the leaks with Hydrogen Leak Detector Extrima from inside the wing tank

5. Repair the leak (or leaks) and verify it with Extrima

Leak point on skin Leak

origin

norm electronics www.norm.gr

Leak locating on wing tanks— 9 All rights reserved © 2007, Alcatel·Lucent

aircraft leak tested with H2

norm electronics www.norm.gr

www.adixen.com

norm electronics

18 Voulis st. 10563 Athens Greece(T) 210 3237698 , 2103234988 (F) 2103237780 www.norm.gr sales@norm.gr