Overview This procedure is used for testing the burst pressure of a pressure vessel.

Warning

Due to the high pressures involved and flying debris, perform this experiment behind a safety barrier.

Equipment

• Air source. This includes pumps, tanks, compressors etc.
• Pressure gauge

Procedure

1. Completely fill the pressure vessel to be tested with water.
2. Connect the air supply to pressure vessel.
3. Slowly increase the pressure to give enough time for pressure to equalize in the hose/regulator.
4. Take the pressure reading at the time of the burst.
5. Record pressure reading.

Notes

1. This procedure should be performed for a number of identical bottles and the results averaged.
2. Due to stretching of the pressure vessel during pressurisation, the air hose can be filled with water to fill the increasing volume of the bottle under test.
3. The test can be carried out under water to reduce noise as well as contain shrapnel.
4. A hydrostatic test does not test a pressure vessels ability to withstand air compression heating.