METHOD FOR CONTAINER LEAKAGE DETERMINATION AT CRYOGENIC TEMPERATURE IN VACUUM Russian patent published in 2011 - IPC B64G5/00 G01M3/00 

FIELD: transport.

SUBSTANCE: invention predominantly relates to ground testing and inspections of rocket and space equipment. The method includes placing container into vacuum chamber and feed of helium into the container. In this process at first a container is charged with cryogenic component pressurised by cooled helium pushing out cryogenic component. Cryogenic component bleeding is conducted successively zone after zone. Each zone includes container structure components (flanges, sealed lead-outs, hatches, etc.) where leakage may be found. Using sensors it is checked when container wall reaches temperature providing microclearances opening. Then the cryogenic component is bled from the next zone. Leakage value of each zone is determined by subtracting leakage value of previous zone from leakage value of the next zone. After cryogenic component has been fully discharged from container total container leakage is measured using helium-detecting check-out facilities. When leakage exceeds allowed value the increased leakage place is searched in the zone of maximum leakage value.

EFFECT: higher accuracy and reliability of container leakage determination in ground conditions by means of testing process approximation to standard container operation conditions as a part of eg missile unit working in space for a long time.

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