Kent Introl Unveils New Tensile/ Compression Testing Capability

Tensile compression test rig – KOSO Kent Introl

Tensile compression test rig – KOSO Kent Introl

Mark Creighton, Senior Subsea Engineer

Mark Creighton, Senior Subsea Engineer


Kent Introl has long conducted a wide range of valve testing techniques to ensure valves manufactured at their Yorkshire factories meet the requirements of the world's most demanding applications and internationally recognised quality standards.

Over the last few years KKI have seen a significant demand for the tensile testing of valves and assemblies, ensuring any special lifting interfaces are capable of twice the gross weight or greater. Until recently though, the testing of valve assemblies was outsourced to a third party which took a disproportionate amount of time out of the production schedule and added significant cost to the process. With customers increasingly demanding this test for both topside and subsea valves, KKI decided to invest in building its own load test rig on-site.

In charge of the project is Mark Creighton, Senior Subsea Engineer at KKI, who designed, developed and managed the installation and commissioning of the rig in its entirety. Meeting the rigorous standards of Eurocodes 1 and 3 the rig stands at 4.3m high and weighs approximately 8 tonnes. It can test objects of any type and dimension up to 2.5m x 2m x 2.5m, accommodating tensile and compressive strength tests up to 10 Tons. Individual valve assemblies under test are subjected to tensile or compressive forces of twice the gross weight specified on the assembly.

The structure was designed and installed for ease of operation and access; one person can carry out the testing procedure without assistance. Customers and auditors are invited to witness the testing process, which is carried out under strictly controlled conditions; the structure is surrounded by high energy impact wire frames and bullet-proof glass for the unlikely event of a valve failure under test.

Today, the unit is fully operational, used regularly for the testing of newly-manufactured topside and subsea valves as well as those being repaired, maintained or upgraded by the KKI Aftermarket team. The company will also undertake the testing of external valves for third party producers in the near future.

Additionally, four fully equipped test bays at KKI are used to carry out the full range of valve tests, including body hydrostatic testing, body gas testing and PR2 qualification testing (to API6A/ISO-10423/ ISO-13628-4) and fugitive emission testing (to ISO15848-1). A test hydraulic power unit (THPU) with automated programmable logic control (PLC) enables the qualification and factory testing of subsea hydraulic actuators. A high-pressure gas testing pit allows gas testing with helium or nitrogen, to 1.1 times a valve's maximum specified working pressure.

Tel: +44(0)1484 710 311
Email: info@kentintrol.com
Web: www.kentintrol.com


Published: 6th September 2016

BVAA Strengthens Board with New Members

Rachel Wormald, Managing Director at YPS Valves Ltd and Elizabeth Waterman, ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

BVAA Valve & Actuator Training News

Are you looking for industry-leading, brand independent valve and actuator ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

Comment by BVAA CEO Rob Bartlett

As can be seen from the photograph, clearly the resident birds at Bartlett ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

Howco Group Invests £1 Million in Vertical CNC Turning Centres

Howco Group has unveiled its latest £1million investment, with the ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

Allvalves: Fuelling Growth Through Customer Connectivity

In 2024, Allvalves is poised for an exciting year of growth and expansion, ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

GMM Pfaudler - Introducing the Normag Brand to the BVAA Community

GMM Pfaudler Engineered Plastics & Gaskets are delighted to bring the ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

Building Industry Connections: A GMM Pfaudler Success Story

In the ever-evolving valve industry, GMM Pfaudler stands out for its ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article

SAMSON Controls Participates in the UK CCUS and Hydrogen Decarbonisation Summit

SAMSON Controls Ltd – part of the SAMSON group - a renowned leader in ...

Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn Read full article