Hydro test is a process where different pipe systems or other pressure devices are tested for their strength and possible leaks. This is usually done after more significant repairs, or simply to check out the equipment before continuing to use it. Hydro testing is usually required to validate the system and it is the only way of finding out if it will work properly.
This testing is performed when the whole system is shut down, and cannot be done when it is running. The test is nondestructive testing method and it might be necessary to be performed before different licenses for normal operating can be issued. The whole unit has to be checked for leaks and other problems that could be the cause of failure.
When this method is used for checking pipelines, the first thing that has to be done is removing the gas or the fluid from the pipes. These pipes have to be mechanically cleaned before filling them with water. When they are fully filled with water, and without any air in the system, they need to be pressurized above their designed pressure limit.
For this particular procedure, the pressure that exceeds the normally used pressure by 50 percent is used. Once under exceeded pressure, the pipes should be visually checked for possible leaks and other problems that may occur. Fluorescent dyes are also used in some cases, where it is important to find the origin of the leaks or various cracks in the structure. The use of dyes makes all this much easier.
Once everything is checked, the water leaves the pipes. It's important to vent the pipes and that they are perfectly dry before they can be filled with oil, gas or whatever they suppose to carry. The water may cause corrosion, and needs to be removed entirely. Different liquids may have different properties.
When it comes to small pressure vessels and cylinders, different procedures are used. There are three main testing methods, depending on the equipment that has to be tested. The first one is called the direct expansion, and in this procedure, the unit is filled with certain amount of water and pressured for certain amount of time. The water expelled from the vessel is measured after that.
Another method is called water jacket method, because the unit should be filled with water first, and then loaded into a sealed chamber. This chamber, called the test jacket, is also filled with water. Pressurizing vessel inside this sealed chamber results in expansion of the vessel, and this forces water out of the sealed chamber. This is how you can measure total expansion.
When this process is over, the vessel should shrink to its original size. If it doesn't shrink back totally, the difference between sizes will tell you if the vessel needs the service. The pressure method is used in cases when measuring this difference is not so important, or required by various laws. In this case, the unit is only checked for leaks or wall thinning that may be causes of failure.
This testing is performed when the whole system is shut down, and cannot be done when it is running. The test is nondestructive testing method and it might be necessary to be performed before different licenses for normal operating can be issued. The whole unit has to be checked for leaks and other problems that could be the cause of failure.
When this method is used for checking pipelines, the first thing that has to be done is removing the gas or the fluid from the pipes. These pipes have to be mechanically cleaned before filling them with water. When they are fully filled with water, and without any air in the system, they need to be pressurized above their designed pressure limit.
For this particular procedure, the pressure that exceeds the normally used pressure by 50 percent is used. Once under exceeded pressure, the pipes should be visually checked for possible leaks and other problems that may occur. Fluorescent dyes are also used in some cases, where it is important to find the origin of the leaks or various cracks in the structure. The use of dyes makes all this much easier.
Once everything is checked, the water leaves the pipes. It's important to vent the pipes and that they are perfectly dry before they can be filled with oil, gas or whatever they suppose to carry. The water may cause corrosion, and needs to be removed entirely. Different liquids may have different properties.
When it comes to small pressure vessels and cylinders, different procedures are used. There are three main testing methods, depending on the equipment that has to be tested. The first one is called the direct expansion, and in this procedure, the unit is filled with certain amount of water and pressured for certain amount of time. The water expelled from the vessel is measured after that.
Another method is called water jacket method, because the unit should be filled with water first, and then loaded into a sealed chamber. This chamber, called the test jacket, is also filled with water. Pressurizing vessel inside this sealed chamber results in expansion of the vessel, and this forces water out of the sealed chamber. This is how you can measure total expansion.
When this process is over, the vessel should shrink to its original size. If it doesn't shrink back totally, the difference between sizes will tell you if the vessel needs the service. The pressure method is used in cases when measuring this difference is not so important, or required by various laws. In this case, the unit is only checked for leaks or wall thinning that may be causes of failure.
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