By leak testing, energy is saved not only directly, through the conservation of fuels such as gasoline and LNG but also indirectly, through the saving of expensive chemicals and even compressed air. Leakage of dangerous gases or liquids pollutes and creates serious personnel hazards. Leak tests operate directly to assure serviceability of critical parts from pacemakers to refrigeration units. Terminology Leaks are most commonly thought of as specialized flaws . However, not all leaks are flaws.
Leaks can just as easily result from poor seals and connections, as well as from inadequate welds.
Technically, a leak is a hole or porosity in an enclosure capable of passing a fluid from the higher pressure side to the lower pressure side. Leaks are often conceived of being simply a round hole, however, this is almost never the case. A leak normally has an involved geometry sometimes extending quite a distance from beginning to end. As a result, leakage repair may require locating both the start and end of the leak. Leaks do not always operate in the same manner.