ME 4232: Fluid Power Control Lab 

University of Minnesota 

Meter-In / Meter-Out Exercise 

ANSWER KEY 

 
 
Circle the control circuit shown above: Meter-in ​Meter-out ​ Bleed-off 
 
Find:  
 
1. Qin ​= v*Acap = 30.8in​3​/s = 8GPM 
2. Pcap ​= Ppump = 1000 Psi since Qrelief = 2GPM, relief valve has cracked​. 
3. Prod: ​Pcap * Acap -Prod Arod = F ⇒ Prod = (PcapAcap-F)/Arod = 1000 psi 
4. Ppump = ​1000 Psi 
5. Output Power of the Actuator ​= F*v = 1000lbf*15.4 in/s = 4448.2N*0.39116m/s=1.74kW 
6. Input Power of the Pump ​= 10GPM*1000psi = (38.85/60)Liters/sec * 6.895MPa = 4.46kW  
7. Circuit Efficiency ​= 39%  
8. Can you bypass the needle valve during the return stroke? If so, sketch how you would modify the 
circuit to do so. ​Add an check-valve for retracting flow  
9. Can this circuit control an over-running load? Explain why/why not. Yes. Cavitation is avoided but 
pressure can be intensified. 
10. F = -1000lbf, what would Prod be? Compared it to the relief valve pressure. ​3000 psi >> P​relief​. This is 
pressure intensification. 
   

Created 2/4/2021
  
Circle the control circuit shown above: Meter-in ​Meter-out ​ Bleed-off 
 
Find:  
 
1. Qin ​= v*Acap = 30.8in​3​/s = 8GPM (relief has cracked) 
2. Pcap ​ Pcap = F/Acap = 500 psi 
3. Prod: ​Tank = 0 psi 
4. Ppump = ​1000 Psi 
5. Output Power of the Actuator ​= F*v = 1000lbf*15.4 in/s = 4448.2N*0.39116m/s=1.74kW 
6. Input Power of the Pump ​= 10GPM*1000psi = (38.85/60)Liters/sec * 6.895MPa = 4.46kW  
7. Circuit Efficiency ​= 39%  
8. Can you bypass the needle valve during the return stroke? If so, sketch how you would modify the 
circuit to do so. ​Add an check-valve for retracting flow  
9. Can this circuit control an over-running load? Explain why/why not. ​No. Cavitation will occur on the 
cap side and actuator will run away! 
 
   

Revised 2/4/2021 2
  
Circle the control circuit shown above: Meter-in Meter-out ​Bleed-off 
 
Find:  
 
1. Qin ​= v*Acap = 30.8in​3​/s = 8GPM  
2. Pcap ​ Pcap = F/Acap = 500 psi 
3. Prod: ​Tank = 0 psi 
4. Ppump = ​500 Psi 
5. Output Power of the Actuator ​= F*v = 1000lbf*15.4 in/s = 4448.2N*0.39116m/s=1.74kW 
6. Input Power of the Pump ​= 10GPM*500psi = (38.85/60)Liters/sec * 3.447MPa = 2.23kW  
7. Circuit Efficiency ​= 78%  
8. Can you bypass the needle valve during the return stroke? If so, sketch how you would modify the 
circuit to do so. ​No  
9. Can this circuit control an over-running load? Explain why/why not. ​No. Cavitation will occur on the 
cap side and actuator will run away! 
 

Revised 2/4/2021 3