Research Facilities > High Pressure Testing
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high pressure test facility
 10,000 lb. graphite canisters being lowered into the 60" pressure vessel. |
Located in the Applied Research Laboratory Building at Penn State, ARL´s High-Pressure Test Facility simulates deep ocean environments. Three cylindrical vessels are available for hydrostatic pressure testing and evaluation of submersible structures and components. The vessels are located in an 1,100 square foot work area and are serviced by a 20-ton crane. The facility uses hydrostatic pressure to isostatically mould industrial materials. |
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 Looking down into the 60" pressure vessel's interior. |
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Diagram of the three pressure vessels: the 23" on the left (A), the 18" in the middle (B) , and the 60" vessel on the right (C). |
Characteristic of Pressure Vessels Instrumentation: Acro-400 Data Acquisition System; Analog Transducer Acoustic Measuring System; HEISE Gage (mechanical); Two Pressure Transducer Systems |
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| Vessels | 23 inch | 18 inch | 60 inch |
Inside Diameter (in) |
23 |
18.4 |
60 |
Inside Void Length (in.) |
60 |
168 |
165 |
Overall Length (in.) |
72 |
210 |
231 |
Volume (Water) (gallons) |
112 |
192 |
2000 |
Operating Pressure (psi) |
2,000 |
20,000 |
16,000 |
Proof Pressure (psi) |
4,600 |
36,500 |
24,000 |
Pumping Time to Maximum Pressure (min.) |
5 |
10 |
16 |
Wall Construction |
Welded HY-80 |
Layered HY-100 |
Monolithic HY-130 |
Wall Thickness (in) |
1.6 |
14 |
10 |
Weight of Assembled Vessel (tons) |
2.25 |
48 |
140 |
Weight of Top Closure (tons) |
0.50 |
4 |
13 |
Type of Closure |
Wedge Lock |
Hinge-Breech Interrupted Thread |
"T" Shaped Plug and Retaining Ring |
Remove Closure Time (min) |
10 |
5 |
20 |
Top Closure Opening |
one-2" diameter |
None |
two-2" diameter |
Electrical Penetrations |
one 40-pin connector |
one 40-pin connector |
two 60-pin connectors |
Pump Systems |
Air-Piston |
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|
Pressurizing Medium |
Fresh Water |
Recycled Water and 5% Kutwell 40 Oil |
Recycled Water and 5% Kutwell 40 Oil |
Shock Mounted |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Temperature Control |
None |
None |
None |
Service Crane Capacity (tons) |
20 |
20 |
20 |
Crane Lift (feet) |
40 |
40 |
40 |
Lab Work Area (square feet) |
1,100 |
1,100 |
1,100 |
 Test items are brought into the lab via its loading dock - accessible from the South parking lot. |
 Test item are lowered into the 60" pressure vessel. The T-plug rests to the left of the vessel. |
 After the test items and 13 ton T-plug have been lowered into the pressure vessel, the 8500 lb. retaining ring is manually turned in. |
 The control panel where acoustic pressure testing is monitored and data collected. |
| Payloads - The facility is also available for isostatic compression of various industrial materials. Assortments of graphite and powdered metal containers can be grouped together for efficient and simultaneous molding. | |||
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 3 |
 4 |
Sequence (1-4) showing the 20-ton crane lowering a payload of 10,000 lb. graphite containers into the 60" pressure vessel. |
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