Hydrotesting - When to Use Kerosene?

Kerosene for Hydrotest? Don't you think it is a bit risky, being inflammable to use on pressure?

I have only come across its usage (and have used ) for static fill test - ie unpressurised.

This is used in our usage - as said for unpressurised application - to find out minute pores and defects - from where water will not give indication due to

a) Its less penetrating capacity. (Do not confuse it with viscosity)

b) The capacity of the water to form rust and close the pore rather than the keroese which will in fact losen the rust and clean it.

Of course now much more sensitive gas detection techniques exist - but these are useful again when the container can be closed and seal tightened.

And there are some other liquids (part of the fluid family ) are available to do the same job, with features - More HSE compliant, Less hazardous, More cost.

Well, it wouldn't be a "hydraulic test" if water were not used....

A pressure test using an incompressible fluid is designed to show if the system leaks, deforms or fails catastrophically at the test pressure with the minimum of risk to those in the district. If the test were to fail, the potential effects of fluid loss must be assessed beforehand.

• Spraying kerosine in the vicinity of an ignition source is asking for trouble...
• Spraying kerosine into a drainage system is asking for a different sort of trouble...
• Spraying kerosine into an office building is asking for a third kind of trouble...
• etc.

We conduct many hydrotests with a 3M Fluuorinert fluid such as FC-77. It is not flamable, has low surface tension and viscosity, is non corrosive, and evaporates fairly quickly. The quick evaporation allows us to inspect the interior of the cavity without special drying procedures immediately after testing.

What is the application for the lines being hydro tested? Maybe you should clear that up and give us more explanation because you'd never use kerosene on a fire hose, and not because it's flammable but just not practical.

One person mentioned putting kerosene under pressure. High pressure could cause it to ignite but 200psi I don't think will cause ignition, which is the pressure a fire hose is put under when tested.

Maybe it's to pressure test chemical lines and they can't allow water in the lines.

I just think the opening question should be explained a little more.

Typically you never use kerosene for hydro-test. As mentioned when you pressurize fluids they heat up. If the kerosene were to escape the results could be rather nasty. Hydrocarbons typically expand more than water so your test results will be affected. There are rust inhibiter's that you can use if water in the test item is a problem. I am not sure but, OSHA and other organizations may prohibit use use of hydrocarbons when hydro-testing. Either way good luck

Kerosene is a very good test when you're not easily able to close off the part/casting/vessel to seal it for a pressure test. The penetrating power of kerosene through the pores of metal or anything else is quite remarkable. Applying air pressure to a closed vessel shown be done cautiously since kerosene is highly flammable and ignites quickly.

A kerosene pump in a refinery is considered one of the most hazardous applications due to the flammability of kerosene.

I have used kerosene to test raw castings for porosity and it is a quick economical test, just don't light up a cigarette during the procedure or be near an open flame. The kerosene can be saved and recycled over and over or even used for other purposes if kept clean or filtered after use.

Yes. The Engineer/Surveyor for the company supplying burst/collapse indemnity insurance cover on the equipment can. Telephone?