Design of a Ball Valves Test Bench for Food Industry
摘要
This paper presents the development of a test bench for valves, structured in two main modules: the control module and the support and fixation module. The project arose from the critical analysis of the company’s certification facilities, identifying limitations and opportunities for improvement. The methodology included an evaluation of the current configurations, research on the state of the art in control benches, valve and hydraulic press technologies, and a conceptual design phase that defined specific solutions for each module. The control module is designed for certification tests, including monitoring the valve opening percentage, while the support and clamping module has incorporated hydraulic technology in a horizontal layout, to ensure efficiency and precision. Prototypes were developed during the design phase in alignment with detailed specifications: a horizontal press for the support and clamping module and a reduced one for the control module, with the aim of carrying out preliminary tests. The project concludes that the proposed bench effectively addresses the company’s requirements, establishing bases for future expansions and improvements, with emphasis on the effectiveness of the support and fixation module that allowed to validate the horizontal arrangement and use of hydraulics.