CFD SIMULATION OF FLOW FORCE REDUCTION IN HYDRAULIC VALVES

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.