Pneumatic Test
Pneumatic Test
(OP)
There is a Tower that has been make from SA-516 70 with diameter 5700 and length 15 m.(MAWP=12 bar)
I have a question about pneumatic test.according to ASME CODE UG-100 we can do pneumatic test in lieu of hydro static.
but we have never done pneumatic test at our shop.
Please help me if there are points about pneumatic test and its dangerous?!
I have a question about pneumatic test.according to ASME CODE UG-100 we can do pneumatic test in lieu of hydro static.
but we have never done pneumatic test at our shop.
Please help me if there are points about pneumatic test and its dangerous?!





RE: Pneumatic Test
Just make sure you and your family are in a different town when you do the test.
RE: Pneumatic Test
That is one big vessel to do an air test on at 12 bar. The consequence of failure would be very extensive and I would struggle to see how anyone would permit this to occur. Doing it in a quarry with no one within 100m might be acceptable....
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
full scale air test to > 12 bar? Nope.
What are going to do next?
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pneumatic Test
Thank you for your nice guidance.I told our CEO that we could not use Pneumatic test but he insisted on this matter.I wanted to investigate about Pneumatic test and found major reference.now we are going to test with water like before.
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
This is an good point......
RE: Pneumatic Test
Caustic everywhere.
We would cut in to a pipe that was supposedly isolated and hot caustic was shooting everywhere.
We were contractors and we quickly lost confidence in the plant operators as to what was isolated and what was not.
New MD came on the plant, heard what was going on and demanded his area managers take responsibility, climb the scaffold and sit beside the fitter / welder whilst they cut into the pipe.
Never had any problems after that !!!
RE: Pneumatic Test
I will calculate the TNT bomb in terms of lb/kg the test will generate and the safe distance required to perform the test over the weekend.You can then present the bomb to your CEO to convince him out of the pneumatic test.
This is somewhat weird. People ask for hydro instead of pneumatic test and here is a reverse case.
My understanding is that the tower is fabricated in your shop, there is no internals installed and the tower will be tested horizontal on the floor. My main concern is the refractory. It becomes extremely difficult to dry refractory after hydro test. What's the service?
Give some more details.
Ganga D. Deka, P. Eng
Canada
RE: Pneumatic Test
your comment reminded me of one of the key points in the film Dr Strangelove....
See attached.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
Whats the design temperature and service of the tower?
Ganga D. Deka, P. Eng
Canada
RE: Pneumatic Test
Here is my calc for the pneumatic test with Air/Nitrogen:
Test Pressure: 1320 kPa
Minuimum Safe Distance required between all personnel and tested equipment: 114 metre
Stored Energy: 186 Kg of TNT.
To pneumatic test this size of test, you will need:
1. A Test plan approved by senior management
2. If air, must be oil free
3. 114 meter radius for safe distance. Possibly, you will plan to do the test in a weekend.
Assumptions:
1. The 114 meter of safe distance is calculated based on - if a failure occurs, only glass will break of the nearby building. There will be no biological or any other structural damage.
2. The calculation is valid only upto the tower design temperature of 38C (100F). If the design temp is higher, the test pressure, the stored energy and the minimum safe distance will increase and requires recalculation.
Try to walk out your CEO out of the pneumatic test by giving him the numbers.
Hope this helps.
Ganga D. Deka, P. Eng
Canada
RE: Pneumatic Test
Test Pressure quoted by OP is 12 Bar = 1200 kPa NOT 1320 kPa. If you got the basic number wrong I don't think we can trust your other figures either!!!
RE: Pneumatic Test
You shouldn't be so quick to criticise.
12 bar is noted by OP as MAWP - not test pressure.
"There is a Tower that has been make from SA-516 70 with diameter 5700 and length 15 m.(MAWP=12 bar)"
Please correct me if I am wrong but 1200 kpa x 1.1 will be pretty close to 1320 kpa
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
There have sadly been a number of fatalities associated with small screwed instrument connections coming loose and "shooting off" without warning, so that needs careful consideration also.
Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.
RE: Pneumatic Test
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Pneumatic Test
True, the explosive force is at best an example - but as a scary example to the head office - it is better than a more precise but less visible term.
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
Thanks for your comments.
Design pressure is 9 bar and temperature is 80C.
The service is MEDA.
RE: Pneumatic Test
RE: Pneumatic Test
Sorry for delay to response.
MDMT : 5 C
THICKNESS:FROM BOTTOM TO TOP IS VARIOUS FROM 40 TO 22 mm.
Further to our investigation we ignore pneumatic test.
Best Regards .
RE: Pneumatic Test
You or your company had made a sensible decision by not going for a pneumatic test. What is the final decision you took for the sake of the team who responded to your query?
Ganga D. Deka, P. Eng
Canada
RE: Pneumatic Test
I am curious ....Does your CEO have an MBA degree ????
Just askin for a friend ....
http://www.safteng.net/index.php/free-section/safe...
MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer