HDPE composite pipe and gasoline

[suzanparvez]

I want to run a test with gasoline in HDPE composite pipe which can hold 750-1000 psi. I will run the test at room temperature and 300-400 psi. I want to fill a small piece of pipe with end fittings on and filled with gasoline and pressurize it at 300 psi and then want to run it for 30 days. The pipe is good for very long time but in any case if the pipe burst what will happen or with that much of pressure is there a chance of ignition. I will conduct this test inside a container which can hold several thousands of pressure and is there any kind of inhibitors I can add or not ?

Thanks for your help.

 

[moltenmetal]

Yes, having a significant quantity of gasoline under pressure will represent a hazard if there is leakage or rupture. But if the leakage or rupture occurs in a vessel which is scrupulously free of oxygen, there can be no ignition. So if you do have a pressure vessel at hand, make sure it's full of argon or nitrogen before you start your test, and continuously thereafter.

As with any hydrostatic test, the other hazard is with stored energy in the form of compressed gas. Minimize the storage of compressed gas by completely filling the specimen with liquid.

But what will a month's test tell you? That the material is suitable for the service under laboratory conditions for a month? There's a little more to service testing than merely holding a specimen under pressure- and a little more to determining suitability of a material for fuel service than merely whether or not it ruptures. We presume you have these numerous other aspects under control.