What type of pressure is indicated during a flow test on a check valve?

During a flow test on a check valve, the type of pressure indicated is static pressure. Static pressure refers to the pressure in a system when the flow is not occurring, and it provides an understanding of the pressure conditions in the system when there is no fluid movement. When testing a check valve, it is essential to determine the static pressure to assess the valve's ability to maintain a proper seal and prevent backflow.

In essence, static pressure is what would be measured in a system at rest, and this measurement is critical for verifying the proper operation of check valves, as well as ensuring the integrity of the backflow prevention mechanism. The ability of a check valve to hold back water depends significantly on this static pressure measurement, which indicates the performance of the valve under conditions of no flow.

Other types of pressure such as absolute pressure (which measures pressure relative to a complete vacuum), gauge pressure (which measures pressure relative to the atmosphere), and dynamic pressure (which relates to the pressure of fluid in motion), do not accurately represent the conditions relevant to a flow test of a check valve. Static pressure specifically gives the relevant data needed to evaluate valve function in a backflow prevention context.