High temperature fluid sample aging cell

A high temperature test cell apparatus comprising:

• a cell body having an open end;
• a sealing assembly, adapted to be inserted into said cell body via said open end, comprising:
• a central tension post comprising a flange having an inclined surface;
• a thrust ring;
• a seal ring concentrically disposed on said tension post flange intermediate said thrust ring and said flange;
• and
• a tension ring adapted to bias said thrust ring against said seal ring;
• a bias adjustment device;
• a cap adapted to be removably connectable to said cell body open end;
• and
• a pressure relief device adapted to be fluidly connectable to said sealing assembly;
• wherein said bias adjustment device is adapted to bias said seal ring against said inclined surface,
• whereby at least a portion of said seal ring circumferentially thereto engages an interior surface of said cell body and fluidly seals said cell body.

A method of aging a sample, comprising:

• providing an aging cell containing a sample comprising one or more liquids;
• inserting a sealing assembly into said aging cell via an open end thereof, said sealing assembly comprising;
• a central tension post comprising a flange having an inclined surface;
• a seal ring concentrically disposed on said tension post flange, wherein said sealing assembly is adapted to allow bias of said seal ring against said inclined surface, whereby at least a portion of said seal ring circumferentially thereto engages an interior surface of said cell body and fluidly seals said cell body;
• a thrust ring adapted to be disposed such that said seal ring is disposed intermediate said thrust ring and said flange;
• and
• a tension ring adapted to bias said thrust ring against said seal ring;
• biasing said seal ring against said inclined surface, thereby engaging at least a portion of said seal ring circumferentially thereto with an interior surface of said aging cell and fluidly sealing said aging cell;
• and
• exposing said sample to a condition selected from the group consisting of:
• elevated pressure;
• elevated temperature;
• both elevated pressure and elevated temperature.