Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Leakage Characteristics of Proportional Directional Valve

Abstract

This article deals with the experimental and numerical analysis of the leakage characteristics of the proportional directional valve. These characteristics describe the flow through the directional valve in the region of the center position of the spool valve. The element under investigation is a three-position four-way directional valve with zero overlap and feedback from the valve spool position. The actual valve spool position is sensed by an inductive position sensor and processed by integrated electronics. By means of an offset on the integrated electronics, it is also possible to set the center position of the valve spool. By moving the valve spool, the size and direction of the working fluid flow in both directions can be controlled. Internal leakage occurs due to axial and radial clearances between the spool and the sleeve. The magnitude of the axial clearances that occur at the control edges is investigated. The blocked-line pressure sensitivity curve, leakage flow curve and center flow curve are determined by experimental measurements. Depending on the experimental measurement, the correction of the center position of the valve spool is then made using offset. The flow through the control edges at the center position of the valve spool was simulated using Ansys Fluent software. Subsequently, the geometry of the flow simulation model is adjusted. The adjustment is made to take into account manufacturing tolerances. Finally, the simulated dependencies including the effect of manufacturing tolerances are compared with the measured and analytically determined characteristics. Research background: Spool valve description, mathematical equations, flow analysis through valve, radial and axial clearance. Purpose of the article: Effect of axial clearance on leakage characteristic. Methods: Experimental measurements, numerical simulation. Findings & Value added: Determining the range of the center flow curve as a function of manufacturing tolerances