Hydrostatic & Burst Testing
Pump water into a sealed part, build pressure, and see if it leaks or bursts.
What is Hydrostatic & Burst Testing?
Hydrostatic testing is used on pressure vessels, cylinders, valves and pipelines to verify strength and tightness. Water is pumped in, pressure is raised to a specified test level (often 1.5× working pressure), and the part is held for a set time.
It is mandatory before new pressure equipment ships, and periodically for in-service items. Skipping it risks catastrophic failure, legal liability and rejection by customers or inspectors.
Burst testing goes further — pressurizing until the part fails — to prove the safety margin. Proof test verifies strength without damage; burst test destroys the sample; fatigue test cycles pressure repeatedly to measure service life.
Manual vs Electric vs Air-Driven
Drive methods differ sharply in pressure limit, explosion safety, and automation.
| Drive Method | Pressure Limit | Explosion-Proof | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual pump | ~100 MPa | ✓ (no electricity) | Cheap / labor-intensive / no automation |
| Electric pump | ~300 MPa | Needs Ex motor | Automated / needs power / heat |
| Air-driven pump | ~600 MPa [TBC] | ✓ (pneumatic) | Safe / auto hold / no power |
For hydrostatic and burst testing, air-driven = safe + enough pressure + hands-off.
SUNCENTER Equipment for This Process
Manual Hydro Test Pump
Low-frequency, small batch, no power on site.
PLC Burst Test Bench
Lab/QC batch testing, auto curve & report, up to 600MPa [TBC].
Computer Fatigue Test Rig
R&D/type test, programmable cycle count.
Process Flow Diagram
Flow subject to technical-dept. confirmation
Prepare
Clamp workpiece, fill water, vent air.
Connect
Test line + gauge + safety valve.
Pressurize
Stepwise ramp-up (air pump auto).
Hold
Hold set time, monitor pressure drop.
Judge
No leak / no deformation = pass; record burst pressure.
Relief
Depressurize before disassembly.
Typical Parameters
Values per product manual — for reference only.
| Workpiece | Test / Working Pressure | Recommended Model |
|---|---|---|
| Valves DN15-50 | 1.6-16MPa | Manual / PLC bench |
| Cylinders (CNG/O₂) | 30-45MPa test | PLC burst bench |
| Pipelines | Per spec [TBC] | Air-driven system |
Further Reading
Blog system under construction — titles below are planned.
- Burst test bench selection: manual vs PLC vs computerTBC
- How to set hydro test pressure: 1.5× working pressure?TBC
- Burst test bench common faults & troubleshootingTBC
Need Hydrostatic & Burst Testing equipment?
Tell us your working conditions and target pressure — our engineers recommend the right model.