Mecelec Design has designed a test for the durability performance of the shafts used within our customer’s compressors.
The test rig consists of a tooling plate on which various compressor shafts can be mounted using interchangeable tooling. The tooling can then simulate the various rotational speeds, torque ripple characteristics and end loads that the compressor shafts are likely to see in operation, which are set by our customer’s test specifications. The tooling also consists of devices for monitoring the applied end loads, compressor shaft torque etc., which are then fed back to the control system.
Another aspect of the test was the ability to carry out the testing of the compressor shafts up to temperatures of 150°C. The tooling plate is therefore enclosed in an environmental chamber which can achieve this, but which at the same time shields all the important test tooling. In the future there may be a need to test to –30°C. The test rig has been designed to allow for the additional equipment to be added to achieve this at a later date. The environmental chamber also soundproofs the testing operation to meet our customer’s noise restriction requirements.