Leak detector for heat exchanger

A leak detector adapted to detect a leak in a heat exchanger without disassembly of the heat exchanger, comprising;

• a) a container that can be filled with a liquid to a liquid level;
• b) a modified port plug adapted to fit in a first heat exchanger port of a heat exchanger's first side, with a hole through the modified port plug;
• c) a tube extending from the hole into the container therein providing fluid communication between the first heat exchanger port and said liquid when the liquid is added to the container;
• and
• d) a pressurized gas supply line adapted to connect to a second heat exchanger port of a heat exchanger's second side therein providing pressurized gas to the second heat exchanger port such that when a leak exists in the heat exchanger between the heat exchanger's first and second sides, pressurized gas from the gas supply line passes into the heat exchanger's second side and is discharged through the tube into the container creating visible bubbles in the liquid therein indicating the leak,
• e) wherein the container is U-shaped having first and second legs extending vertically from a container bottom and wherein the tube extends into one leg of the U-shaped container, which leg is closed with an effective gas-tight seal above the liquid level such that gas in the bubbles is discharged into the closed container leg above the liquid causing a difference in liquid level between container first and second legs as a further indicator of the leak.