What Are the SIKA Test Labs and What Benefits Do They Offer?
When I reported about the turbine and Vortex flow sensors last year, I made reference to our SIKA test labs. But what exactly are they? What tests are performed there, and how do they benefit our customers?
Today I would like to answer these questions and give you an insight into the SIKA test labs for flow sensors.
The SIKA test labs are equipped with a range of different test benches. These are used intensively by our development department to put our measuring instruments through their paces during the product development phase. They also serve to underline our exacting demands when it comes to the quality and durability of our products.
One of the most frequently used pieces of equipment is our flow test bench, which can accurately measure flow rates ranging from just a few millilitres per minute up to as much as 500 l/min. Here we can determine characteristic curves for virtually all SIKA flow meters with nominal diameters from DN2 to DN40.
Then we have the glycol test bench, which we use to establish, and subsequently optimise the measuring performance of, for example, SIKA Vortex flow sensors using a water/glycol mixture. This is an important process for many heat pumps. The test bench can be operated with different glycol mixtures at temperatures ranging from -20°C to 90°C.
To test our products even more intensively, we make use of a climatic chamber. This allows us to operate our products at temperatures from -50°C up to +200°C. We can thus ascertain how our products behave under extreme conditions and consequently draw conclusions about their expected service life. These tests also allow us to uncover any weaknesses at an early stage and devise appropriate solutions before the market launch.
Another important area in the test labs is what we like to call “endurance corner”. This, as the name suggests, is where we perform a number of long-term tests. Among other things, these help us to establish the influence that water with a very high rust or lime content has on the measuring performance of ourflow meters. We can also test whether the devices continue to work reliably over an extended period of time when subjected to alternating pressures and high temperatures. The test bench for establishing the service life of our VTY turbine systems is also located here.
The longest test ever conducted in “endurance corner” involved aSIKA flow switch. The aim was to find out how often and for how long a flow switch can continue to switch until the technical specification is no longer met or the flow switch fails. After having to replace the occasional pump in the test bench, we eventually stopped the test after around 15 years, without witnessing any failure of the devices under test. Even we have to admit defeat sometimes.
Other test facilities include the “shaker” for vibration tests, an additional climatic chamber with the option of setting relatively high air humidity, test benches for high temperatures and operating pressures as well as a test bench in which particle-laden water is passed through the flow sensors at alternating temperatures.
And how do our customers benefit from all this testing? Well, they can trust in the outstanding quality and durability of SIKA products!
When it comes to measuring instruments, however, quality is only half the story, with measuring performance and accuracy in the specific application being at least of equal importance. We have grasped this and are able to test the performance of our products in the customer’s own hydraulics before making any necessary optimisations.
In the case of our SIKA flow switches, for example, we can determine and configure the specific switching points for the customer’s individual pipe geometry.
If the necessary inlet or outlet section cannot be implemented for an application involving a VTY turbine system, we can determine the individual pulse rate for this system.
For measuring instruments such as the Vortex flow sensor, which is equipped with a microcontroller, we can also adjust additional parameters and thus better adapt the devices to the specific conditions of the application. In this case, it is also possible to integrate the customer-specific pipe geometries in our test bench.
If this all sounds fascinating and exciting, that’s because it is!
Did you know that the flow test benches are also designed and constructed by SIKA? And I don’t just mean those in the test labs, but also the test benches used in production – of which there are quite a few. It goes without saying that they are all tested and calibrated at least once a year as part of our test equipment monitoring. Such a mammoth task requires a dedicated workforce, and that is where our PAS team comes in. This department specialises in test and automation solutions, and it embodies the whole wealth of knowledge that exists at SIKA.
Would you like to benefit from our comprehensive expertise and extensive test equipment? We are more than happy to assist. Get in touch today!
