A system and method of predicting impending failure of a pressure vessel include a pressure vessel, a fluid source, a line coupled to the pressure vessel and to the fluid source, an apparatus, a sensor and a controller. The apparatus includes a conduit and a containment structure. The containment structure includes a cavity separated from an interior of the conduit by a portion of a conduit wall of the conduit. The sensor is configured to determine a value of a physical property in the cavity. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor and configured to detect a change in the value. The method includes determining a first value of a physical property in the cavity, experiencing a failure of the conduit wall, determining a second value of the physical property in the cavity, and detecting a difference between the first and second values.

A system and method of predicting impending failure of a pressure vessel include a pressure vessel, a fluid source, a line coupled to the pressure vessel and to the fluid source, an apparatus, a sensor and a controller. The apparatus includes a conduit and a containment structure. The containment structure includes a cavity separated from an interior of the conduit by a portion of a conduit wall of the conduit. The sensor is configured to determine a value of a physical property in the cavity. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor and configured to detect a change in the value. The method includes determining a first value of a physical property in the cavity, experiencing a failure of the conduit wall, determining a second value of the physical property in the cavity, and detecting a difference between the first and second values.

The accumulator includes a housing having a sealing face and a fluid inlet/outlet passage; and a bellows fixed at one end to the housing such that an inner space of the housing is hermetically partitioned by the bellows into an interior and an exterior of the bellows. The bellows includes a bellows main body capable of expanding and contracting and a bellows cap provided with a sealing member covered with an elastic body that is opposed to and capable of being closely attached to the sealing face of the housing. The fluid inlet/outlet passage of the housing is closed upon a close attachment of the elastic body to the sealing face. The accumulator further includes a spacer placed between the housing and the bellows cap so as to surround the sealing member. The spacer has a communication passage providing communication between an inside and an outside of the spacer.

An accumulator includes a housing having a sealing face and a fluid inlet/outlet passage, a bellows fixed at least one end to the housing such that an inner space of the housing is hermetically partitioned by the bellows into an interior and an exterior of the bellows, the bellows including a bellows main body capable of expanding and contracting and a bellows cap including an annular seal holder, and a sealing member formed by covering a disc-shaped substrate with an elastic body that is opposed to and capable of being closely attached to the sealing face of the housing, the sealing member is held by a holding portion of the annular seal holder on an inner diameter side of the annular seal holder, the fluid inlet/outlet passage of the housing being closed upon a close attachment of the elastic body to the sealing face.

A system and method of predicting impending failure of a pressure vessel include a pressure vessel, a fluid source, a line coupled to the pressure vessel and to the fluid source, an apparatus, a sensor and a controller. The apparatus includes a conduit and a containment structure. The containment structure includes a cavity separated from an interior of the conduit by a portion of a conduit wall of the conduit. The sensor is configured to determine a value of a physical property in the cavity. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor and configured to detect a change in the value. The method includes determining a first value of a physical property in the cavity, experiencing a failure of the conduit wall, determining a second value of the physical property in the cavity, and detecting a difference between the first and second values.

An accumulator according to an embodiment includes, for example, a base member; a cover member welded to the base member, the cover member and the base member defining a pressure chamber therebetween; a stretchable partition member that partitions the pressure chamber into an inner chamber and an outer chamber; and a labyrinth structure provided in at least one of a first part of the base member and a second part of the cover member. The first part is located closer to the outer chamber than a welded part between the base member and the cover member. The second part is located closer to the outer chamber than the welded part, facing the first part.

A system and method of predicting impending failure of a pressure vessel include a pressure vessel, a fluid source, a line coupled to the pressure vessel and to the fluid source, an apparatus, a sensor and a controller. The apparatus includes a conduit and a containment structure. The containment structure includes a cavity separated from an interior of the conduit by a portion of a conduit wall of the conduit. The sensor is configured to determine a value of a physical property in the cavity. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor and configured to detect a change in the value. The method includes determining a first value of a physical property in the cavity, experiencing a failure of the conduit wall, determining a second value of the physical property in the cavity, and detecting a difference between the first and second values.

A safety device includes a connection point (21) for a pressure accumulator (1) that is connected to a bursting unit (55) at the gas end via the connection point (21). The bursting unit (55) can be triggered by a controllable force element (73). In the triggered state, the bursting unit allows the pressure accumulator (1) to be emptied at the gas end.

A system and method of predicting impending failure of a pressure vessel include a pressure vessel, a fluid source, a line coupled to the pressure vessel and to the fluid source, an apparatus, a sensor and a controller. The apparatus includes a conduit and a containment structure. The containment structure includes a cavity separated from an interior of the conduit by a portion of a conduit wall of the conduit. The sensor is configured to determine a value of a physical property in the cavity. The controller is in signal communication with the sensor and configured to detect a change in the value. The method includes determining a first value of a physical property in the cavity, experiencing a failure of the conduit wall, determining a second value of the physical property in the cavity, and detecting a difference between the first and second values.

The accumulator includes a housing having a sealing face and a fluid inlet/outlet passage; and a bellows fixed at one end to the housing such that an inner space of the housing is hermetically partitioned by the bellows into an interior and an exterior of the bellows. The bellows includes a bellows main body capable of expanding and contracting and a bellows cap provided with a sealing member covered with an elastic body that is opposed to and capable of being closely attached to the sealing face of the housing. The fluid inlet/outlet passage of the housing is closed upon a close attachment of the elastic body to the sealing face. The accumulator further includes a spacer placed between the housing and the bellows cap so as to surround the sealing member. The spacer has a communication passage providing communication between an inside and an outside of the spacer.