Performance Verification Testing

of Valves and Components

For more than 35 years, Southwest Research source of the problem. If it appears that the
Institute® (SwRI®) has provided expertise and leakage occurs from a seal seating problem,
state-of-the-art facilities for testing and evalu- the computer cycles the valve several times
ating mechanical and environmental effects on and restarts the test. If the leakage persists, the
oil industry equipment. test is shut down. An environmental chamber
is an integral part of the test loop. Used dur-
SwRI recently completed the design and ing the temperature extreme test phases, the
KEYWORDS installation of a unique computer- insulated chamber contains heating elements
controlled, fully automated valve test facility and cooling coils that enable maximum
to evaluate production gate valves as recom- (300°F) and minimum (-50°F) temperature
API-6A PR 1 Tests
mended in API Specification 6A, Appendix F, limits to be maintained.
API-6A PR 2 Tests PR2 level. The facility can accommodate up
to 9-inch, 15,000-psi valves and actuators Appendix F for Specification 6A requires pre-
Valve/Actuator (and test fixtures). Fixture testing on stem cise measurement of leaks across the gate and
Assemblies and bonnet seals can also be performed seat of the test valve. SwRI developed a sensi-
Seal Assemblies under API-6A. tive electronic leak detection unit that uses a
precision low-pressure transducer to measure
Pneumatic Actuators Test components are installed in a hydraulic the change in the fluid head caused by leaks.
loop with high-pressure, pneumatically oper- The software establishes a baseline level before
Hydraulic Actuators
ated valves that direct pressure to the upstream control valves are opened, and then
Manual Actuators and downstream sides of the test item, accord- measures the differential change for the
ing to the test specification. The computer required hold period.
Elevated Temperatures system and customized software automatically
Cryogenic control the required testing parameters. API 6A – PR2 Tests
Temperatures Simple machine intelligence has been built Performance verification tests include:
into the computer software. If a leak beyond
Environmental the preset limit is detected, the program initi- • Force measurement open/close
Chambers ates a troubleshooting routine to locate the • Dynamic cycling at ambient temperature
(160 cycles at maximum differential
XHP-HT Tests
bore pressure)
• Maximum/minimum temperature cycling
(20 cycles each temperature range)
• Pressure/temperature cycles
• Ambient temperature seal tests
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Valve and hydraulic actuator assembly Valve and hydraulic actuator assembly in test fixture for
undergoing low-temperature (-50°F) test API-6A test
 S O U T H W E S T R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E

Downstream

Upstream

Valve assembly in
environmental chamber
for API-6A test

Benefiting government,
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industry and the public

through innovative
science and technology

Southwest Research Institute is an

independent, nonprofit, applied
engineering and physical sciences
research and development organization
using multidisciplinary approaches to
problem solving. The Institute occupies
1,200 acres in San Antonio, Texas, and
provides more than 2 million square feet of
laboratories, test facilities, workshops and
offices for more than 3,200 employees
who perform contract work for industry
and government clients.

We welcome Joseph E. Crouch, P.E. Anthony J. Magaro, Research Engineer

your inquiries. Marine & Offshore Systems Test and Evaluation
(210) 522-4295 (210) 522-3449
For additional [email protected] [email protected]
information,
please contact: Structural Engineering Department
Mechanical Engineering Division
Southwest Research Institute
6220 Culebra Road • P. O. Drawer 28510
18-0411 JCN 240620 tp

San Antonio, Texas 78228-0510

An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V swri.org

Committed to Diversity in the Workplace
mechmatserv.swri.org