Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating performance of a fuel nozzle test stand under varying configurations using Taguchi parameter design - An industrial application

  • ORIGINAL ARTICLE
  • Published:
The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Taguchi parameter design is an efficient and effective method for evaluating and optimizing parameters for a given process. This article describes a study involving the use of Taguchi parameter design for the evaluation of pressure measurement devices used on fuel nozzle test stands. This study examines and compares the performance of a digital display pressure transducer device and a mechanical analog pressure gage, under various parameter levels and configurations. Both an inner and outer orthogonal array are used to quantify control factor variability within the pressure gage calibration and measurement process, given two noise factors. Control factors include two types of dead weight testers, two types of pressure measurement devices, and three set pressures. Two noise factors utilized here were two different operators and the change in direction of the pressure before measurement (upward or downward). Collected data are used to determine the optimal levels of three quality characteristics: pressure difference, settling time, and hysteresis. Taguchi parameter design analysis of signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) found an optimal test stand configuration included a pressure transducer with digital display with any combination of the other control factors, although with some sacrifice of response time. Verification of this selected configuration was conducted through linearity studies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Flott LW (1996) What hath Detroit wrought? Met Finish 94:121–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Pivka M, Mulej M (2004) Requisitely holistic ISO 9000 audit leads to continuous innovation/improvement. Cybernet Syst 35(4):363–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hafeez A Auditors, be the best. Mater World 14(4):36–37

  4. Andersson R, Eriksson H, Torstensson H (2006) Similarities and differences between TQM, six sigma and lean. TQM Magazine 18(3):282–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Savastano D (2003) In search of continuous improvement. Ink World 9(1):24–32

    Google Scholar 

  6. Zhong J, Wang Y, Webber R, Gupta K (1995) Advances in pressure gauge calibration systems: your key to ISO certification. Advanced Pressure Products Available online at http://www.pmiapp.com/APP_Web_Old/cutedge/a_cut_advanpgcs.html

  7. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) (1995) Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement. Geneva, Switzerland

    Google Scholar 

  8. Taylor BN, Kuyatt CE (1994) NIST Technical Note 1297: guidelines for evaluating and expressing the uncertainty of NIST measurement results. National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD

    Google Scholar 

  9. United States Department of Energy Sandia National Laboratories (1996) Process Measurement Assurance Program: a report by R. B. Pettit (Sandia Report SAND96-1241). Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM

    Google Scholar 

  10. Zeccardi JJ (1988) Inspection and test. In: Juran JM, Gryna FM (eds). Juran’s quality control handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York, NY, pp 18.63–18.68

    Google Scholar 

  11. National Research Council Canada Institute for National Measurement Standards (2006) Calibration Services. Available online at http://inms-ienm.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/en/calserv/calibration_services_e.php

  12. Jones FE (1995) Effect of kinematic viscosity on the performance of turbine flow meters-solution to the problem. In Proc 1995 NCSL Workshop and Symposium Dallas, TX, pp 379–389

  13. Olivier PD (1995) Determination of turbine meter usable turndown. In Proc 1995 NCSL Workshop and Symposium Dallas, TX, pp 739–745

  14. Singh AP, Kumar S, Kamal TS (2004) Fitting transducer characteristics to measured data using a virtual curve tracer. Sensor Actuat A-Phys 111(2–3):145–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Bush LB, Unal R, Rowel LF, Rehder JJ (1992) Weight optimization of an aerobrake structural concept for a lunar transfer vehicle (NASA Report No. NASA TP-3262). National Aerospace and Space Administration, Washington, DC

  16. Case J (1998) Taguchi methods for engineering design. Available online at http://www.menet.umn.edu/~case0048/quality

  17. Fowlkes WY, Creveling CM (1995) Engineering methods for robust product design: using Taguchi methods in technology and product development. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA

    Google Scholar 

  18. Derimiggio J (1995) WinRobust (Version 1.02) [computer software]. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA

    Google Scholar 

  19. Rosemount, Inc (1998) Model 3051 smart pressure transmitter family [product manual]. Rosemount, Chanhassen, MN

    Google Scholar 

  20. Roy, RK (2001). Design of experiments using the Taguchi Approach: 16 steps to product and process improvement. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York

    Google Scholar 

  21. Everhart, JL (1997) Developing a process measurement assurance program (PMAP™). Cal Lab: The International Journal of Metrology January/February:22–28

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Joseph Chen & E. Daniel Kirby

  2. Goodrich Corporation, Greenville, SC, 29615-5749, USA

    James Alvin Zellmer

Authors
  1. Joseph Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Daniel Kirby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. James Alvin Zellmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chen, J., Kirby, E.D. & Zellmer, J.A. Evaluating performance of a fuel nozzle test stand under varying configurations using Taguchi parameter design - An industrial application. Int J Adv Manuf Technol 38, 205–217 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-007-1090-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00170-007-1090-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation