Customer
The CSTB is one of the historical customers of LF Technologies, which uses our test benches for many types of fittings and sanitary fittings.
The CSTB's mission is to guarantee the quality and safety of buildings and to support innovation in the construction field. This mission is accomplished through its activities: research and expertise, evaluation, certification and dissemination of knowledge.
Tested product
Ball valves (RTS or ball valves).
The ball valve is a shut-off valve for shutting off the flow of fluid in a part of the circuit.
Objective
Endurance testing of ball valves under adjustable operating cycles and temperatures. These valves must comply with standards: NF EN 13828 and NF 079 Doctech 09.
Problematic issues
The test parameters (torque and temperature) are very demanding:
- The torque must be able to reach a maximum value of 20 Nm with a high accuracy of 0.04 Nm
- The temperature must be between -5°C and 100°C
- The possibility of testing several products at the same time to increase the test rates
Solution and result
The bench designed by our teams allows 2 RTS (rotating ball valves) to be tested simultaneously.
The bench consists of a hydraulic circuit common to both valves tested. This circuit is controlled in pressure by a centrifugal pump and in temperature by electric heaters and a cooling unit. This circuit works in a closed loop with glycol water.
When the temperature rises, the fluid takes on volume (expansion), and an expansion tank is used to absorb this additional volume.
The valves are operated by two independent rotary systems with integrated torque measurement. These systems are servo-controlled in position, speed and torque.
