Engineers’ Essentials: Proportional Flow Control Valve
A proportional flow control valve blends state-of-the-art hydraulic valve actuation and modern, advanced electronic control. They help simplify the hydraulic circuitry by cutting down on the number of components that a system might require and, simultaneously, increasing system accuracy and efficiency. An electric hydraulic flow control valve alters fluid flow by the current input it receives. These valves can control the motors of smaller hydraulic cylinders for applications that require precise control of speed and controlled deceleration or acceleration.
Proportional Flow Control Rate Using Valves
Eight kinds of flow control valves are commonly used in hydraulic circuits. Some of them are described in this article.
1. Orifices:
An orifice, a simple part of the line, is the most basic method for a Proportional flow control valve. When used to regulate flows, it will be connected to the pump. Orifices can be a hole drilled into an instrument that is fixed. Or it could be pneumatic needle valves calibrated that acts as an adjustable orifice. Both of them are non-compensated flow-control devices.
2. Flow Regulators:
The device is a bit more advanced than a conventional orifice. It comprises an orifice that detects the flow rate as drops in pressure through the orifice. A compensating piston adapts to changes in the outlet and inlet pressure. This ability to compensate allows for better flow rate control in various pressure conditions. The control accuracy could be as high as 5% or less with a solenoid valve with flow control that is specially calibrated and operates by a specific flow rate point.
3. Controls for Flow That Are Based On Demand:
Flow control can also redirect the excess flow of the system to an additional circuit. Fluid flows at a prescribed flow rate to the introductory course, and bypass fluid performs secondary circuits without impacting the primary circuit. The flow must be directed to the primary circuit for this solenoid valve flow control to function. If it is not working and the Proportional flow control valve is shut off, the valve will shut off the supply to the second circuit.
4. Pressure-Compensated, Variable Flow Valves:
The flow control is fitted with an adjustable orifice connected to a flexible compensator. The compensator adjusts automatically to different pressures at the inlet and the load while maintaining an essentially constant flow rate in these conditions with a precision of 3% to 5percent. Pressure-compensated, Proportional flow control valve are available with integral reverse-flow check valves, which allow fluid to flow unrestricted in the opposite direction. Critical overload relief valves route fluid to the tank when maximum pressure is exceeded.
5. Pressure- And Temperature-Compensated, Variable Flow Valves:
The viscosity of the hydraulic oil changes with temperature; the flow control solenoid valve output could be susceptible to shifting depending on temperature changes. To counteract the effects of temperature variations, Temperature compensators alter the orifice openings on the control to reduce the impact of changes in viscosity caused by fluctuations in the temperature of the fluid. This is accomplished in conjunction with adjustments to the control orifice for changes in pressure and pressure changes.