HelplineAbrasive Flow Test Facility
TUV NEL has a sand/water abrasive flow facility that can be used for undertaking tests on components and equipment over a range of controlled operating conditions.
The facility can be used to investigate the effects of abrasive flows, erosion damage and wear on a wide range of equipment. Typically, a test is initially carried out with clean water to obtain a datum set of conditions and then under abrasive flow conditions. The components under test are inspected at regular intervals during an endurance test.
Recent testing includes:
- Abrasive flow valve tests (TUV NEL Type-testing, API testing)
- Pipeline components - e.g. valves, flowmeters, hydrocyclones, separators
- Internal and external pipelining wear and abrasion tests
- Flexible pipe wear/abrasion tests
- Materials, coatings, surface treatments
- High pipeline-velocity erosion tests - 30 m/s
Damage to a ball valve after 1000 cycles, with 0.1% sand
The remains of turbine flowmeter blades after erosion damage
Severe sand erosion in a control valve
Sand, rust and corrosion in a valve seal pocket
Wear in a hydrocyclone
Valve leak test (metal seat) after 500 cycles
Severe surface coating damage on a gate valve - seized after 100 cycles
Technical Specification
| Low Flow Loop | High Flow Loop | |
|---|---|---|
| Pipe sizes | 50 mm nb | 100, 150 mm nb |
| Flowrate | up to 8 l/s | up to 50 l/s |
| Line Pressure (flowing ) | up to 28 bar | up to 14 bar |
| Test section hydrostatic pressures | up to 1000 bar | up to 50 bar |
| Temperature | 10 to 40° C | 10 to 70° C |
| Sand content % by weight | up to 5% | up to 1.5% |
The whole facility is PC controlled and has a dedicated data acquisition and control system. The test section pipework can be horizontal or vertical. If required a viscosifier can be added to the sandy water to keep the sand in suspension at low velocities. Different sand grades and sizes are available; the standard TUV NEL sand has an average particle size of 275 microns.