The hyperbaric testing workshop manages and implements three high-pressure chambers of different sizes and features to simulate extreme depths (greater than 10,000 m). They are filled with oil, freshwater or seawater, and regulated for pressure and temperature.

The facilities include:

• Acquisition and real-time processing of pressure measurements
• Real-time visualization by video camera up to 1,000 bars
• Hydraulic and electric connections, watertight up to 1,000 bars
• Underwater hydraulic power pack
• Various pieces of hydraulic equipment and electric connector technology

 

Characteristics	1,000 bars TDI	1,500 bars	1,000 bars with viewport
Max. pressure	1,000 bars	1,500 bars	1,000 bars
Effective height	1 metre	0.3 metre	0.1 metre
Effective diameter	0.3 metre	0.15 metre	0.07 metres between viewport or 0.08 metres
Pressure cycling	yes	yes	yes
Temperature regulation (°C)	-20 °C to +40 °C	-20 °C to +40 °C	no
Electrical and hydraulic penetration	yes	yes	yes
Compression fluid	Freshwater, seawater, oil or Mayoline

 

Principal uses

• Development, qualification and acceptance of enclosures resistant to external pressure
• Qualification of high-pressure optical and electrical connectors
• Development, qualification and acceptance of various electric motors with measurements
• Qualification of viewports (hemispherical, flat)
• Testing of underwater electrical and electro-optical cables; measuring insulation, dielectric strength and optical attenuation
• Behaviour of materials under pressure (foams, floats, combined materials)
• Studying the behaviour of living marine organisms