Predicting Operational Reliability of the Directional Control Valves of the Hydraulic Press System Using Taguchi Method and Regression Analysis

This paper presents a study that investigates the operational reliability of directional control valves used in hydraulic press systems by applying the Taguchi method and regression analysis. The research focuses on key hydraulic parameters—kinematic viscosity, internal leakage, pressure, and temperature—to identify their influence on valve reliability. Three valves (DCV1–DCV3) were tested under identical conditions using an L8 orthogonal array to optimize the experimental design while maintaining statistical validity. The Taguchi analysis revealed that internal leakage is the dominant factor affecting valve reliability, consistently confirmed across all statistical evaluations, including signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios and ANOVA results. Regression models were developed for each valve to quantify the effect of each factor and showed excellent predictive accuracy (R2 > 98%). The study concludes that minimizing internal leakage, maintaining lower temperatures, and applying higher operating pressures significantly enhance valve reliability, while viscosity had negligible effect within the tested range. Valve DCV2 demonstrated the highest predicted reliability. These findings offer valuable insights for the optimization of hydraulic valve design and maintenance strategies, contributing to the improved performance and longevity of industrial hydraulic systems.