CFD simulation of flow force reduction in hydraulic valves

Abstract

Original scientific paper This paper describes some possible methods for the reduction of the axial static flow forces in hydraulic sliding-spool and small on/off seat valves. These forces increase with the increase in the volume flow and the pressure difference and thus determine higher actuation forces for the control of the valve unit. This results in the necessary use of more powerful actuators for the direct control of hydraulic valves. The topic is therefore very relevant from the energy consumption point of view regarding the actuation of hydraulic valves. To make the use of low-power actuators for the control of directly actuated valves possible also for higher hydraulic power the flow forces acting on the valve piston in the axial direction must be reduced. This paper presents one of the possible solutions with such a design of the hydraulic valve housing and the spool that the flow stream of the fluid through the valve causes minimal axial static forces. The main influential geometry parameters of the sliding-spool and seat valve are defined and analysed in detail using the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation tool Ansys CFX and experimental analysis for the validation of the numerical fluid model of the valve. The results of the research are very promising and prove that the axial component of the flow forces and therefore the necessary actuation force can be reduced significantly just by modifying the geometry of the valve housing and spool. Thus the power consumption of the actuator is minimised and the valve dynamic characteristics are improved at the same time.Keywords: CFD simulation; experimental analysis; fluid flow forces; geometry optimisation; seat valve; sliding-spool valve CFD simulacija smanjenja sila protoka fluida u hidrauličnom ventiluIzvorni znanstveni članak Ovaj članak opisuje neke moguće metode za smanjenje statičnih sila protok ulja u hidrauličkom ventilu sa uzdužnim klipom i malim "on/off" sjedežnim ventilom. Sa porastom strujnog toka i razlike tlakova dolazi do povećanja aksijalnih statičnih sila što prouzročava upotrebu viših potisni sila odnosno veću potrošnju energije pri upravljanu ventila. Spomenjeno rezultira obaveznom upotrebom aktuatora veće snage za direktno upravljanje hidrauličkog ventila. Sa stajališta potrošnje energije pri upravljanju ventilom ova tema je veoma važna. Da bi omogućili upotrebu aktuatora niže snage za direktno upravljane ventila s visokim protokom ulja, potrebno je smanjiti aksijale sile koje djeluju na klip u ventilu.Ovaj istraživački rad predstavlja jedno od mogućih rješenja s takvim dizajnom kućišta hidrauličkog ventila i klipa da strujni tok ulja kroz ventil uzrokuje minimalne statične aksijalne sile. Glavni parametri geometrije ventila sa uzdužnim klipom i malim "on/off" ventila su definirani i detaljno analizirani pomoću CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulacijskoj alata Ansys CFX. Poslije toga provedena je eksperimentalna analiza za validaciju numeričkog modela ventila. Rezultati istraživanja su vrlo obećavajući i dokazuju da aksi...

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