Introducing TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory

TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory has been at the forefront of flow measurement technology for over 60 years.

A world-leading authority on flow measurement, on behalf of the Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), it is the UK’s Designated Institute for flow and density measurement, as part of the wider National Measurement System.

This means the company is home to the UK’s physical primary standards for flow and density measurement, which are developed and maintained at its East Kilbride base.

In addition to flow measurement, the company’s experience of valve testing is unparalleled. The laboratory has a long history of supplying manufacturers and valve end-users with independent and accurate test data.

Each year over 1,200 flow tests are performed in the custombuilt and fully independent test facility, including tests for a variety of valve types, such as choke valves, used for oil and gas wellhead applications; check valves; globe valves; gate valves; and butterfly valves to name a few.

Designed and built with flexibility in mind, the laboratory’s test rigs can accommodate most valve types and sizes over a wide range of operating conditions.

Valve performance testing and development work can be undertaken within the facilities using a range of fluids including water, oil, gas, multiphase or abrasive fluids to both national and international standards.

Test programmes can also be developed and adapted to suit any application or user requirements, including flow coefficient (Cv), pressure drop and liquid pressure recovery factor (Fl) testing.

Valve failure investigation and consultancy support services are also areas of expertise.

In addition to physical flow testing of valves, TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory also has an in-house Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) team who have extensive experience of using CFD to simulate complex valve test and performance scenarios, which would otherwise be difficult or dangerous to physically test.

Some examples include predicting the wear-life of valves used in abrasive or sandy conditions, prediction of flashing and cavitation within valves at elevated pressures and temperatures and determining the effect of complex flow profiles on valve performance.

TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory can also offer both CFD and physical testing as a combined package.

Physical test data provides a baseline to validate CFD modelling, which can then be used as a powerful design optimisation tool for valves and other components.

For more information on how TÜV SÜD National Engineering Laboratory can help with your valve flow testing needs, contact Carl Wordsworth carl.wordsworth@tuv-sud.co.uk.

Tel: 01355 220 222
Email: carl.wordsworth@tuv-sud.co.uk
Web: www.tuv-sud.co.uk/nel

Published: 8th November 2019