Thermal Cycle Testing

Thermal cycle test stand

Overview

Today’s tough testing standards demand performance and reliability regardless of the weather conditions. Standard cold start procedures are now being succeeded with more extreme temperature cycling requirements. Repetitive and extreme temperature cycling conditions that engine and heat exchanger systems will experience throughout their life cycle has become the standard. Q Corporation manufactures glycol, water and oil supply systems capable of providing accurate flow capacities with precision temperature control. Although Q Corporation has several standard packaged offerings, we specialize in custom designed systems, including “refrigerant to coolant” and “brine to coolant” systems.

Thermal cycle test stand

Use-Case Examples

  • Product failure testing of Condenser, Radiators, Oil Coolers, Heat Exchangers, Powertrain & Hydraulic Components.  Perform to U/L, SAE, JIS and other industrial pressure testing specifications.

  • Verify long term durability and the effects of extreme thermal cycling on Charge Air Cooler heat exchangers. Simplicity of design and function assures long term performance and dependable results. Automotive to Class 8 CACs.

  • Thermal shock cooling systems for dynamic cooling applications involving engine cold start testing, heat exchanger thermal cycling including engine, heater core and radiator and critical process cooling.

Thermal cycle test with ice

Features

  • Pressurized feed control options

  • Thermal cycling systems available with hot & cold reservoir

  • Remote set point capability

  • Portable systems available

  • Automatic leak detection

  • Precise and real time data acquisition of all specified parameters

  • Also available as a “boost chiller” for additional cooling capacity to an existing cooling system

  • Operation provides for energy efficient staging of compressor systems, high tolerance to varying loads across conditioning coils

Technical Specifications

  • Temperature: -30F to 250F
    Cycle Time: Up to 1 Hz
    Volume Displacement: Variable
    Media: Water, Glycol, Oil
    Flow: Up to 100 gpm+ per UUT
    Flow Meter: Coriolis or fixed orifice

  • Transition: 10 gpm to 150 gpm+
    Turndown: 10:1 turndown on control
    Temperature Range: -70 to 350°F
    Temperature Sensor: RTD or thermocouple

  • Testing Capacity: 2 parts at a time (standard offering)
    Cycle Rate: 30 cycles per hour, typical
    Hot Temperature Range: 350° to 700°F+
    Cool Temperature Range: Water supply temperature + 12°F to 130°F
    Temperature Stability: +/- 10°F
    Charge Air Airflow: 10 to 150 lb./min per Unit
    Charge Air Supply: Rotary Vane Blower, Variable Speed Drive
    Maximum Pressure Drop 6 psi

  • Temperature Range: -40F to 250F
    Conditioned Flow Range: 5 gpm to 150 gpm+
    Operation: Stand alone, w/ process water cooling or “boost chill”
    Capacity: 60 HP to 600 HP

    • Fully automatic PLC-based control algorithms

    • Real time display of measured and calculated variables,

    • Multi format, multi axis, multi pen graphing capabilities

    • Complete control interface to equipment

    • Calibration support for internal or external traceable calibration

    • Multi test automated sequencing

    • Password Protection

    • Real time calculation of all required values

    • Data storage for export to external data analysis

    • Ethernet, MODBUS and SQL server communications

Example drawing of one of our process skids.