HYDROSTATIC TESTING TECHNOLOGIES IN THE METALLURGICAL INDUSTRY

The development of the new test presses is based on the requirements of modern technologies for the extraction of oil from ultra-deep wells and shale gas to test the strength of pipes up to higher test pressures. The hydrostatic test algorithm involves pushing test heads onto the ends of the pipe to seal the internal cavity of the pipe. Then the pipe is filled with a water emulsion and the pressure of this emulsion is increased to the value specified in regulatory documents. For high-pressure hydrostatic testing of oil and gas pipes, the most advantageous method is the external sealing of pipes using segmental sleeves. The mechanical testing equipment should take into account the compensation of axial forces from the pressure of the test fluid inside the pipe, for which purpose the press frame should be power-operated. The most common power scheme of test presses is considered, in which all axial forces arising from the action of the fluid pressure inside the pipe on the test heads are compensated by reaction forces in the power columns. The front head is rigidly connected to the columns, and the rear head is placed on a movable carriage to compensate for uneven pipe lengths. In the working position, the rear carriage is fixed to the columns with special locking mechanisms. It is advisable to improve the quality of the test by improving the design of the hydraulic system elements and studying the processes during the rise and retention of high pressure. The test pressure inside the pipe is created mainly by means of a hydraulic pressure multiplier. The parameters of the multiplier: multiplication factor, piston diameter and stroke are selected depending on the required test pressure, length and diameters of the pipes to be tested. Research on high-pressure hydraulic systems of the multiplier type is of particular interest at present.