3 Performance tests
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1048 – Performance Standards and Performance Tests for Manually Powered Reverse Osmosis Desalinators – (Adopted on 28 May 2002) - Annex - Performance Standards and Performance Tests for Manually Powered Reverse Osmosis Desalinators - 3 Performance tests

3 Performance tests

  3.1 At least three specimens of manually powered reverse osmosis desalinators should be subjected to the following tests in the order specified.

  • .1 Temperature cycling test

  • The specimens should be subject to the temperature cycling as prescribed in paragraph 1.2.1 of the Annex to resolution MSC.81(70) and then to external examination. The specimens should show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.

  • .2 Humidity test

  • The specimens should be subject to a temperature of +65°C and relative humidity of 90% for at least 96 h, followed by ten days at 20°C to 25°C at 65% relative humidity, and then to external examination. The specimens should show no sign of damage such as shrinking, cracking, swelling, dissolution or change of mechanical qualities.

  • .3 Vibration test

  • The specimens should be mounted to a vibration testing machine and the following tests should be conducted in three mutually perpendicular directions. The specimens should show no sign of damage and should continue to function effectively.

    • .3.1 Resonance search vibration test

    • The specimens should be vibrated at frequencies from 5 Hz to 16 Hz, at a single amplitude of 1 mm in a period of 10 min. Then the specimens should be vibrated at frequencies from 16 Hz to 60 Hz, at an acceleration of 1 G in a period of 10 min. The frequencies and directions at which resonance occurred should be recorded.

    • .3.2 Endurance vibration test

    • The specimens should be vibrated for at least 1.5 h at the resonant frequencies, or if no resonance was observed, at 16 Hz at a single amplitude of 1 mm.

  • .4 Corrosion resistance test

  • The specimens should be exposed to a salt water spray test (5% NaCl by weight) at a temperature of 35 ±3°C for 100 h without interruption. After completion of the test the specimens should show no corrosion which could affect their efficient functioning.

  • .5 Rate of production and potability test

  • Using salt water solution (3.4% NaCl by weight) at a temperature of 20 to 25°C, the specimens should be operated continuously for at least 14 hours according to the manufacturer’s instruction. The device should then be shut down for 12 hours and the procedure repeated. The product water flow rate and salinity in ppm should be measured every 60 min. The salt rejection rate should be not less than 95%. The capacity for 48 hours of use should be calculated based on the measured flow rate.

  • .6 Manual power test

  • The amount of manual power required to operate the device should be measured and recorded.

  • .7 Drop test to the floor

  • The specimens should be dropped from a height of 2 m onto a rigid steel plate (about 16 mm thickness) on a concrete floor so as to hit the floor with the specimen’s major axis perpendicular, horizontal and inclined at 45° to the floor. After the test, the specimens should show no damage which could affect their efficient functioning.

  • .8 Drop test with liferaft

  • For a device intended for stowage in an inflatable liferaft container, each specimen should be stowed inside the packed inflatable liferaft container, and dropped into water from a height of 18 m or the maximum stowage height of the liferaft, whichever is greater. The test should be conducted two times, and the specimens and liferafts should show no damage which could affect their efficient functioning.

  • .9 Pressure test

  • The maximum operating pressure specified by the manufacturer should be applied to each port of the device for a period of 10 min with the other port plugged. The specimens should show no leakage or damage.

  • .10 Relief valve test

  • The operating pressure of the relief valve should be measured, and the relief valve should operate at a pressure in accordance with the manufacturer's specification.

  • .11 High temperature performance test

  • The specimens should be taken from a stowage temperature of +65°C and then operated at ambient temperature using +30°C salt water solution (3.4% NaCl by weight) for a period of 30 min. The product water flow rate and salinity should be measured. The flow rate should be not less than the manufacturer’s specification, and the salt rejection rate should be not less than 95%.

  • .12 Low temperature performance test

  • The specimens should be taken from a stowage temperature of -30°C and then operated at ambient temperature using 0°C salt water solution (3.4% NaCl by weight) for a period of 30 min. The product water flow rate and salinity should be measured. The flow rate should be not less than the manufacturer’s specification, and the salt rejection rate should be not less than 95%.

  • .13 Endurance test

  • The specimens should be operated continuously for at least 500 h according to the manufacturer's instruction. Performance data should be measured twice daily on each specimen. The specimens should show no sign of damage and should continue to function effectively.


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