Frequently Asked Questions/FAQ

Not necessarily. Our experience, based on testings over 1 million cylinders, cleary shows that only about 1,7% of the cylinders tested are rejected. The percentage of rejection is even lower if newer cylinders are tested. However, cylinders that are rejected are a potential safety risk and show among others critical flaws like cracks which are not found with traditional hydraulic testings.

The capacity of the testing unit depends greatly on the volume of the tested cylinders. If the cylinders are in good condition (no stickers, etc.) the unit can test 25 to 35 cylinders per hour. Approximately 150 to 250 cylinders can be tested per shift (8 hours), including time for calibration.

In principle, yes. Ultrasonic testing is an approved alternative to pressure testing according to the current regulations of ADR/RID.

The decision whether the valve has to be removed or not depends on your local authority. In Switzerland it is handled as follows: The valve is only removed for internal inspection in case a flaw signal is displayed during the testing procedure.

The examination of the transition area from the cylindrical part to the shoulder is not necessary because this area shows less stress and the material is thicker.

The transition area from the cylindrical part to the base constitutes a critical point, as many flaws are detected (conditioned by manufacturing process). Our Autosonic™ standard, Autosonic™  flow and Autosonic™  light can be additionally equipped with a sixth channel in order to test the transition area to the base.

Cylinder data that has already been entered in another system can be copied into the specially developed interface table which our software provides and can be used for cylinder testing with ultrasonic.

Do you have further questions regarding the ultrasonic testing of gas cylinders? Please do not hesitate to contact us.