For certain applications, full-size tests are essential: either because specimen-based tests do not faithfully reflect the behaviour of the final product, or because exposure under conditions close to those of service is required. This study presents a concrete example of this type of qualification.
The project involved testing a metallic tube used to supply an industrial system with gaseous hydrogen. In service, this tube is subjected to repeated pressure and depressurisation cycles. To ensure its reliability, a dedicated test bench was designed to accurately reproduce these cycles, safely, in a hydrogen environment. Several tubes were thus exposed to these loadings for several months, in order to simulate all the conditions encountered during their operation. Following these tests, in-depth characterisations were carried out to validate the usability of the tubes and to officially qualify them for hydrogen service.
Results obtained:
- Development of a dedicated test bench, equipped with a safety system suited to hydrogen.
- Qualification of industrial products under conditions representative of their service environment.