Revolutionising valve testing

As a technical advisor on both API 2000 and ISO 28300 Standard Committees, Assentech’s Ewart Cox explains the need for accurate testing and calibration for low pressure and vacuum relief valves UK-BASED Assentech has been developing a lightweight aluminium test bench for its own use for quite a few years. ‘Many of our clients started asking where they could buy such a device so that got us thinking about designing one to offer to end users,’ Cox explains. Testing tank breather vents accurately takes more knowledge and experience than one might expect. The two international standards guiding manufacturers and users of best practice in tank venting devices are API 2000 and ISO 28300. Referring to API 2000, section 5.4 defines the need for manufacturers to test every vent prior to dispatch for leak rate and calibration. ‘In the 25 years I’ve been involved in the industry I’ve been frustrated that the vast majority of breather manufacturers ignore this requirement in order to cut costs,’ Cox says. ‘A manual leak and calibration test could take up to 20 minutes so this is viewed by the low cost producers as a production bottleneck and cost that could be avoided,’ Cox...