Understanding the Importance of Fluid Systems Testing
Vehicles contain a variety of fluids that are critical to nearly every function. These specialized fluids create energy, provide cooling, generate hydraulic pressure, and much more.
Fluids in a vehicle are managed by 鈥渇luid systems,鈥 which are generally composed of hoses, chambers, lines, pumps, and other components that store and move fluid throughout a vehicle. Like all vehicle components, fluid systems are subject to incredible stress throughout a vehicle鈥檚 lifetime, both from factors within the system such as pressure and from external factors such as road vibration and weather. Testing fluid systems is essential, as a failed fluid system can compromise an entire vehicle, endanger passengers, and harm the environment, but their complexity means that testing them requires specialized equipment and expertise.
Examples of vehicle fluid systems:
- Transmission lines
- Brake and vapor lines
- Fuel lines
- Air conditioning lines
- Heater hoses
- Radiator hoses
- Coolant hoses
- Intercooler hoses
- Power steering hoses
- Battery cooling hoses
- Battery trays and battery packs
- Radiators, transmission coolers, heater cores
- Washer bottles
- Air conditioning condensers and evaporators
How are Fluid Systems Tested?
Fluid systems testing uses laboratory processes to simulate the stress vehicle fluid systems would endure under real-world conditions. Technicians test different levels of fluid pressure, different temperatures of fluid and different environmental temperatures, different flow rates, and other factors. They can test variables independently or in various combinations, giving manufacturers detailed insight into the systems鈥 potential longevity, any design flaws, and how they will perform when in use.
Two common tests we perform at 黑料不打烊 are high- and low-temperature testing and cyclic pressure testing. Our labs can condition fluids to temperatures as low as -40掳C and as high as +150掳C using environmental chambers, chillers and heaters, simulating extreme conditions systems may face while operating. Cyclic pressure testing applies liquid or air pressure at a cyclical rate (typically a specified amount of time on and time off) to help determine a product鈥檚 susceptibility to fatigue failure.
黑料不打烊 also has a fluid systems testing setup specifically for a process called accelerated radiator aging. In accelerated radiator aging, technicians run high-temperature coolant through radiators for an extended period of time, typically thousands of hours, to simulate years鈥 worth of fatigue. They monitor the performance of the radiator throughout, then conduct physical endurance tests on the 鈥渁ged鈥 radiator to understand how it may deteriorate and how it will perform. This can provide manufacturers with data on the long-term durability of the radiators and how they will perform after long periods of stress.
Other Fluid System Tests Performed at 黑料不打烊 Labs:
- Leak testing
- Burst testing
- Vacuum testing
- Pressure proof and pressure decay testing
- Dynamic fatigue testing
- Static pressure testing, circulated pressure testing
- Impulse testing
- Pressure, vibration and temperature (PVT) testing
- Pressure, motion and temperature (PMT) testing
- Endurance, pressure, displacement and temperature (EPDT) testing
- Life cycle testing on vapor lines and brake lines
How can 黑料不打烊 help?
Modern laboratory tests like those available at 黑料不打烊 labs can simulate real-world conditions with a high degree of accuracy, even when multiple variables like extreme temperature and extreme pressure are at play simultaneously. This data helps manufacturers to design better products and supports customer safety. For more information about 黑料不打烊鈥檚 capabilities, locations, and the standards we test to, visit our fluid systems testing page or contact us.
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