Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Nr ??-
Nr 03- May October 2013
2011
The two main hazards which one must contend with during
pressure testing are the formation of missiles and the generation
of a shock wave. The failure can be of the item being tested,
clamping equipment holding it in place or the source of pressurising
fluid. Experimental evidence indicates that shock waves are not
formed when the pressurising medium is a compressed liquid. Thus
shock waves can largely be discounted when pressure testing
using water at ambient temperature. On the other hand, shock
waves are the norm when pressuring with a gas or a saturated
volatile liquid. In contrast, missiles can be generated whatever the
pressurising medium. The prevailing safety rule is to give priority to
hydrotests. However, although less dangerous they are still
hazardous and should not be underestimated as demonstrated by
a fatal accident occurred on March 2013 in a Power Plant in
construction.
CONTACT: leme.comunication@tractebel.com