Localized differential pressure-helium mass spectrometry sealing detection technology for aircraft integral fuel tank leakage risk locations

The sealing performance of aircraft integral fuel tanks is typically tested after tank assembly. Due to the confined and complex spatial structure of the fuel tank, it becomes challenging to locate and repair leakage points at risk locations, leading to significant rework and severely impacting production efficiency. This paper proposes a combined differential pressure-helium mass spectrometry detection method. The sealing detection hoods were designed for local risk areas to create sealed cavities, transforming the sealability assessment of risk locations into leakage rate determination for the sealed cavities. The "differential pressure-helium mass spectrometry"stepwise detection process was introduced. Through software and hardware integration, a localized sealing detection system based on differential pressure and helium mass spectrometry was developed. The error between the experimental value and the theoretical value of the leakage rate did not exceed 1.63%. Experimental results demonstrate that the system efficiently and accurately detects leakage rates at risk locations, enabling rapid identification of sealing defects and laying the foundation for improving fuel tank sealing assembly efficiency.