What is control Valve?

A control valve is a device capable of modulating flow at varying degrees between minimal flow and full capacity in response to a signal from an external control device. The control valve often referred to as the final control element, is a critical part of any control loop, as it performs the physical work and is the element that directly affects the process. Flow-control valves The purpose of flow control in a hydraulic system is to regulate speed. All the devices discussed here control the speed of an actuator by regulating the flow rate. Flow rate also determines rate of energy transfer at any given pressure. The two are related in that the actuator force multiplied by the distance through which it moves (stroke) equals the work done on the load. The energy transferred must also equal the work done. Actuator speed determines the rate of energy transfer (i.e., horsepower), and speed is thus a function of flow rate. Directional control, on the other hand, does not deal primarily with energy control, but rather with directing the energy transfer system to the proper place in the system at the proper time. Directional control valves can be thought of as fluid switches that make the desired "contacts." That is, they direct the high-energy input stream to the actuator inlet and provide a return path for the lower-energy oil. It is of little consequence to control the energy transfer of the system through pressure and flow controls if the flow stream does not arrive at the right place at the right time. Thus, a secondary function of directional control devices might be defined as the timing of cycle events. Because fluid flow often can be throttled in directional-control valves, some measure of flow rate or pressure control can also be achieved with them. Different types of flow measurement Controlling flow of a fluid-power system does not necessarily mean regulating volume per unit of time from a valve. Flow rate can be specified three different ways, so it is important to be aware of how flow is to be specified or measured: Volumetric flow rate, Qv, expressed in units of in.3/sec or min - or cc/sec or cc/min in SI metric measure - is used to calculate the linear speeds of piston rods or rotational speeds of motor shafts. Weight flow rate, Qw, expressed in units of lb/sec or lb/min, is used to calculate power using English units of measure. Mass flow rate, Qg, expressed in units of slugs/sec or slugs/min for English measure - or kg/sec or kg/min in SI metric measure - is used to calculate inertia forces during periods of acceleration and deceleration. Because they control the quantity of fluid that flows through the valve per unit of time, the same control valves are used for all three types of flow rates.

Control of flow rate with valves There are eight types of flow-control valves: Orifices - A simple orifice in the line, Figure 1(a), is the most elementary method for controlling flow. (Note that this is also a basic pressure control device.) When used to control flow, the orifice is placed in series with the pump. An orifice can be a drilled hole in a fitting, in which case it is fixed; or it may be a calibrated needle valve, in which case it functions as a variable orifice, Figure 1(b). Both types are non-compensated flowcontrol devices. Flow regulators - This device, Figure 2, which is slightly more sophisticated than a fixed orifice, consists of an orifice that senses flow rate as a pressure drop across the orifice; a compensating piston adjusts to variations in inlet and outlet pressures. This compensating ability provides closer control of flow rate under varying pressure conditions. Control accuracy may be 5%, possibly less with specially calibrated valves that operate around a given flow-rate point. Bypass flow regulators - In this flow regulator, flow in excess of set flow rate returns to reservoir through a bypass port, Figure 3. Flow rate is controlled by throttling fluid across a variable orifice regulated by the compensator piston. The bypass flow regulator is more efficient than a standard flow regulator. Demand-compensated flow controls - Flow controls can also bypass excess system flow to a secondary circuit, Figure 4. Fluid is routed at a controlled flow rate to the primary circuit, and bypass fluid can be used for work functions in secondary circuits without affecting the primary one. There must be flow to the primary circuit for this type of valve to function - if the primary circuit is blocked, the valve will cut off flow to the secondary circuit. Pressure-compensated, variable flow valves - This flow control is equipped with an adjustable variable orifice placed in series with a compensator. The compensator automatically adjusts to varying inlet and load pressures, maintaining an essentially constant flow rate under these operating conditions to accuracies of 3% to 5%, Figure 5. Pressure-compensated, variable flow-control valves are available with integral reverse-flow check valves (which allow fluid to flow unrestricted in the opposite direction) and integral overload relief valves (which route fluid to tank when a maximum pressure is exceeded). Pressure- and temperature-compensated, variable flow valves - Because the viscosity of hydraulic oil varies with temperature (as do the clearances between a valve's moving parts), output of a flow-control valve may tend to drift with temperature changes. To offset the effects of such temperature variations, temperature compensators adjust the control orifice openings to correct the effects of viscosity changes caused by temperature fluctuations of the fluid, Figure 6. This is done in combination with adjustments the control orifice for pressure changes as well. Priority valves - A priority valve, Figure 7, is essentially a flow-control valve that supplies fluid at a set flow rate to the primary circuit, thus functioning as a pressure-compensated flow-control valve. Flow in excess of

that required by the primary circuit bypasses to a secondary circuit at a pressure somewhat below that of the primary circuit. Should inlet or load pressure (or both) vary, the primary circuit has priority over the secondary - as far as supplying the design flow rate is concerned. Deceleration valves - A deceleration valve, Figure 8, is a modified 2-way, spring-offset, cam actuated valve used for decelerating a load driven by a cylinder. A cam attached to the cylinder rod or load closes the valve gradually. This provides a variable orifice that gradually increases backpressure in the cylinder as the valve closes. Some deceleration valves are pressure-compensated.

What are Valves? Valves are mechanical devices that control the flow and pressure within a system or process. They are essential components of a piping system that conveys liquids, gases, vapors, slurries etc. Different types of Valves are available: gate, globe, plug, ball, butterfly, check, diaphragm, pinch, pressure relief, and control Valves. Each of these types has a number of models, each with different features and functional capabilities. Some Valves are self-operated while others manually or with an actuator or pneumatic or hydraulic is operated. Functions from Valves are: Stopping and starting flow Reduce or increase a flow Controlling the direction of flow Regulating a flow or process pressure Relieve a pipe system of a certain pressure There are many Valve designs, types and models, with a wide range of industrial applications. All satisfy one or more of the functions identified above. Valves are expensive items, and it is important that a correct Valve is specified for the function, and must be constructed of the correct material for the process liquid. Classification of Valves The following are some of the commonly used Valve classifications, based on mechanical motion: Linear Motion Valves. The Valves in which the closure member, as in gate, globe, diaphragm, pinch, and lift Check Valves, moves in a straight line to allow, stop, or throttle the flow. Rotary Motion Valves. When the Valve-closure member travels along an angular or circular path, as in butterfly, ball, plug, eccentric- and Swing Check Valves, the Valves are called rotary motion Valves. Quarter Turn Valves. Some rotary motion Valves require approximately a quarter turn, 0 through 90, motion of the stem to go to fully open from a fully closed position or vice versa. Common Types of Pneumatic Valves Pneumatic valves are one of an array of components responsible for controlling the pressure, rate, and amount of air as it moves through a pneumatic system. Pneumatic systems, which depend on the force of compressed air to transmit power, can be found in countless industrial applications, from pneumatic pressure power tools to diesel engines. Based on other components within a given application and the type of pneumatic system used, one of several types of pneumatic valves may be found at the heart of the device.

Functional directional control valves, those that control the direction of air flow or inhibit flow all together, are a large class of pneumatic valves that houses multiple variants. Functional Directional Control Valves Many functional directional pneumatic control valves are classified based on the number of entry and exit ports they possess, the number of flow paths they create, and the mechanism by which ports are opened and closed. Two-Way Directional Valve A two-way directional valve passes air in two directions, through two ports which can be open or closed. If the valve ports are closed no air can flow through the valve. If the ports are open, air may move from the first port through the valve and through the second port or in the opposite direction. Three-Way Directional Valve A three-way directional valve has three ports, each of which serves a different purpose. The first port is used to connect the valve to an actuator or another device. The second port is connected to an air-flow. The third port is used as an exhaust exit. When the first and second ports are open and the third is closed, air moves through the valve to the device. When the first and third ports are open and the second port is closed, the actuator can vent exhaust. Three-way valves are often connected to actuators in cylinders, or used in pairs and connected to double-acting cylinders. Four-Way Directional Valves A four-way directional valve has four distinct ports, two of which connect to actuators, one that connects to a pressurized air-flow, and one that serves as an exhaust pathway. They are among the most common types of valves found in pneumatic systems because the four distinct paths allow the valve to effectively reverse the motion of a motor or basic cylinder. An additional port is sometimes added to a four-way valve, making it a five-ported four-way valve. A four-way valve with an additional port is often used to provide dual pressure, meaning the valve can apply one of two kinds of pressure and alternate between the two depending on what the application requires. Alternatively, the valve can use the other port as a secondary exhaust port. Spring Offset This type of pneumatic valve classification refers to the manner in which air-flow direction is switched. For example, in a two-way directional valve, the valve is either open (air-flow is enabled) or closed (air-flow is prevented). In order for each port to assume an open or close position, an actuator moves a valve spool into position. To release the valve spool and return the pneumatic valve to its previous position, a spring releases the spool. A two-way directional valve that functions in this manner is also called a spring offset valve. Resting state: Open v. Closed In two-way directional spring offset valves, there are two positions they can assume when the connected actuator isnt active: open or closed. In devices where an open resting position is standard, air moves freely through the valve. In a closed resting state, the air-flow is blocked. In three-way valves, one port is always open. In such cases, a closed resting state usually results in blocking the air-flow port, so pressure isnt moving unless the device is turned on.