Leckratenberechnung per Druckabstiegsmessugn / Leak-rate calculation via rate of rise measurement
  • Leak-rate calculation via rate of rise measurement
  • Pressure monitoring of vacuum chambers

Leak-rate Calculation and Pressure Monitoring in Vacuum Chambers and Systems

Requirements

Vacuum chambers and vacuum systems are used in numerous industrial processes as well as in research and development, where stable and reproducible vacuum conditions must be maintained over extended periods of time. Even minor leaks or material-related outgassing effects can lead to malfunctions, loss of process quality, or increased energy consumption. Reliable leak testing ensures that vacuum chambers and systems meet the required process conditions.

Leak-rate calculation via rate of rise measurement

With the VD850 compact vacuum meter, users can quickly and reliably check whether a vacuum system is leak-tight and determine the magnitude of the leak rate. For this purpose, the vacuum chamber is evacuated using a pump. Once the target vacuum level has been reached, the system is isolated from the pumping system or the valves are closed.

The VD850 records the pressure profile of the isolated system, with the slope of the pressure increase serving as a measure of the integral leak rate. The calculation of the leak-rate takes into account the volume of the vacuum chamber, which must be known as accurately as possible or realistically estimated in order to obtain reliable results. Especially in complex systems or variable setups, correct volume estimation is of crucial importance.

The measured values are stored in the device together with RTC data from the integrated real-time clock. Data transfer is available via USB-C or Bluetooth® LE to a PC or mobile device, where the data can be clearly visualized and evaluated using the VacuGraph™ software.

Thanks to direct measurement of the pressure rise and visualization either on the device itself or via Thyracont software, the VD850 is equally well suited for service, maintenance, production, and research applications.

Suitable Products

VD850: The compact vacuum meter with a combined Piezo/Pirani sensor measures absolute and relative pressure in the rough and fine vacuum ranges over a wide measuring range, enabling:

  • Direct pressure monitoring of vacuum chambers, evacuation processes, and production systems
  • Leak-rate calculation directly at the device via rate of rise measurement
  • Long-term data recording via an integrated data logger with export function for further analysis

References

VTA Verfahrenstechnische Anlagen GmbH & Co. KG - The company specialized in the manufacture of thin-film and short-path distillation systems for thermal separation processes. Depending on the system type, the volume of the laboratory and pilot plants ranges from 1 to 50 liters. Pressure measurements are performed over a period of 30 minutes using Thyracont compact vacuum meters. The permissible leak rate is 0.1 mbar·l/s, and the achievable ultimate pressure is at least 0.001 mbar.