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IWWS Pressure Testing

IWWS Pressure Testing

IWWS Pressure Testing

(OP)
Hello,

For an IWWS currently pressure tested at around 9 psi, could it safely be tested at 20 psi as specified by the helium leak test for the same system?

As an intern this question was posed to me by a senior engineer and I didn't have the answer.  If a helium leak test could be safely conducted at 20 psi, is there any reason the pneumatic test couldn't be conducted at the same pressure?

RE: IWWS Pressure Testing

flyn-

Your senior engineer probably already knows the answer. He has given you a problem he thought you would chew on a bit and either come up with some sort of logic or ask for help. Asking your senior engineer for help after explaining what thinking / research you've done is not an indication of weakness but one of strength. If you are concerned about your image, be aware that many, if not most, senior engineers would rather have someone honestly say "I don't know" than take a shot at an answer and later find out (perhaps catastrophically) that its a wrong answer.

Now, one other thing you need to learn is that we live in a very large world. Not all of us speak your facility's language. It would be beneficial if you would take the time to spell out what IWWS means and what the basis of the 20 psi pressure test is. Then you'll start getting some reasonable prodding to help you take a semi-thought out answer to your senior engineer.

Welcome to the real world.

jt

RE: IWWS Pressure Testing

(OP)
jt,

Thanks for the response.  IWWS = Industrial wastewater system.  To quote from my deliverables:

"Explanation of pneumatic pressures in the 5-9 psi range, and whether or not this can be increased to 20 psi safely, as the helium leak test specified."

I fully intend on asking for help, but I thought it would be a good idea to hear from other people in the industry too and see what their thoughts were.  My apologies if perhaps this doesn't fall within the intended scope of this forum.

 

RE: IWWS Pressure Testing

flynnders

In my industry, we "routinely" (1 every 10 years) pneumatically test large concrete structures to internal pressures greater than 20 psi. So, pneumatic tests of greater than 20 psi can be safely performed.  Of course, you might not be testing a large concrete structure, but I don't have enough information to determine that.  And just knowing that it "can" be done, doesn't mean it "should" be.

So, some questions I would ask are: Where did the original test pressures originate?  Why are two different tests specified?  Why do you need to increase the pressure of the pneumatic test (even if you decide you can)?  Is increased pressure the only factor to consider?  What are some of the differences between commercial air and helium?

Patricia Lougheed

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