High Pressure Testing with Mate/ De-Mate Actuation

An essential part of our design engineering process is to fully understand our customer’s product. The critical functionality of the device under test and its unique requirements.

The offshore energy industry demand that subsea wet-mate electrical connectors used for power, control and communications are comprehensively tested; proving their robustness and reliability in the most realistic and hostile operating environments.

KW Designed Solutions developed and engineered an advanced range of high pressure vessels that have automated mate/ de-mate mechanisms incorporated into their design; meeting these strict testing requirements in line with API standards.

Integrated tooling and multi-penetrations allow for adaption to all types and sizes of wet-mate electrical or hydraulic connectors. This allows the user to simulate functionality, operation and connectivity of the male/ female connectors, whilst under pressure; ensuring robustness and reliability after hundreds of cycles.

Our mate/ de-mate system allows both single-step and cyclic-step sequential functionality; with set datum, adjustable travel distance for mate and de-mate positions, intermediate hold/ pause times, cycle repetition and simply to start, stop or reset a cycle.

pressure vessels which have automatic mate/de-mate mechanisms used whilst pressure testing subsea wet-mate electrical connectors

Features

Balanced stab rods with through bore and cable gland attachment
Compact linear actuation with various stroke lengths
Connector misalignment capability
Integral tooling for multiple connector attachment
Programmable speeds, distances, steps and cycles
Single step to cyclic step sequencing with set datum reference
Slow speed setting with jog functionality for product set-up

Benefits

Creation of advanced testing platforms; simulating real-life functionality that exceeds the requirements of API standards
Angular misalignment can be induced to simulate ROV manipulation
Central bore in stab rods enables the attachment of high pressure glands; sealing the client’s electrical cables
QCDC couplings can be mechanically operated whilst subjected to hyperbaric pressure
Subsea electrical connectors can be physically mated and de-mated during electrical testing
The mate/ de-mate drive system is neatly incorporated into the pressure vessel closure design

Applications and Customer Uses

An air-mate and de-mate mechanism is provided on pressure vessels, for customers who manufacture equipment for the subsea industry, that require the ability to conduct wet-mate electrical connector testing (the mate/ de-mate actuation of electrical connectors) or hydraulic valve testing in line with API 6A.

Project Example of a Mate/ De-Mate High Pressure Testing System

High Pressure Testing Subsea Electrical Connectors

Designed and manufactured advanced high-pressure testing systems for subsea qualification and production testing a series of the world’s highest-rated mateable subsea electrical connectors.

High-pressure testing vessels, two at 3 meters and one at 6 meters in length, complete with fully automated fluid control modules and pressure and temperature control systems for a global provider of oil and gas services.

High Pressure Testing Subsea Electrical Connectors

Designed and manufactured advanced high-pressure testing systems for subsea qualification and production testing a series of the world’s highest-rated mateable subsea electrical connectors.