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| Figure 1. Modeling of a 4-way valve begins with a single land and two describing equations, one each for the overlap and underlap condition, and intersecting with equal slopes. |
A proposed spool valve model is based on the characteristics of a single, variable valve land, four of which are grouped to form the 4-way model. Each land has two regions; the first is the overlap (closed) region in which land-to-land leakage varies in direct proportion to the square root of the differential pressure across the land and is inversely proportional to the overlap distance.
The second region is where the valve land is under lapped and, therefore, is open. This is where the valve coefficient varies in direct proportion to the land under lap (degree of opening) and in direct proportion to the square root of the differential pressure. It is sometimes referred to as the straight line region.
The two regions converge on the transition point, KVXX in Figure 1. The transition point occurs at a spool position of xX. The assumption that leakage varies with the square root of pressure drop (it is turbulent) provides the major compromise to achieve mathematical simplicity. And because the valve coefficient varies linearly with land opening, it also points out the applicability only to valves with rectangular metering slots.
Examining the parameters
Figure 2 is an analytical schematic of the valve when tested for internal leakage and with the spool in the position that results in maximum land-toland leakage. Because it is a symmetrical valve, each land is assumed to have the same value for KVXX, the flow coefficient at the transition point. The series-parallel configuration can be replaced by a single orifice of KVTXX , where the addition of the T in the subscript represents total.
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| Figure 2. Land-to-land leakage testing is done with work ports blocked, and each land is assumed to have a flow coefficient of KVXX. This illustration is valid only at the spool position of peak leakage. |
KVTXX is only an estimate of the peak value that will result from the model. At model development time we do not know the transition position of the spool, the intercept value of the open metering land coefficient, nor the scaling coefficient in the overlap region. Also, the exact position of the spool where leakage maximizes is unknown; it is merely estimated from the targeted value of the overlap for the valve’s test data.
An important issue not yet covered is that model development has been done on only one of four individual lands, two of which move toward opening while the other two move toward closure. KVXX merely corresponds to the transition point; it does not ensure that it will be the point of maximum leakage when all four lands are put together. Therefore, the resulting model will approximate the actual valve test data, but with a complete steady-state performance simulation. A few iterations can be set up to produce the land-to-land leakage in the full bridge circuit and overlap as contained in the actual valve's test data.
It is not uncommon in simulation to start with a perfectly symmetrical valve configuration and then explore various degrees of asymmetry for each of the lands. The proposed valve is a 4-land, 4-way, single spool valve. As such, all lands reside on the same physical spool. As one land moves, all others do too by exactly the same amount. All lands open and close in a synchronized and complementary action to achieve the direction and flow desired.
It’s all in the timing
As the spool moves, two lands open. One is a powered land, so called because it is in direct communication with the valve's P port. The other is the return land, so named because it is in direct communication with the T port.
At the same time, the other two lands both move into overlap, sometimes erroneously called closure. The exact occurrence in which the four lands open and close is called the valve timing. In a real valve, the only way to alter the valve∏s timing is to either re-grind all the lands or change the valve or its spool. With mathematical models, it’s simply a matter of changing a few input data items and set the timing to any value you want to explore, land by land.
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| Figure 3. The timing diagram for each land of our 4-way valve model shows that as the PA and BT lands open from positive spool displacement, the PB and AT lands go into overlap, and vice-versa for negative spool displacement. |
Figure 3 shows a stylized, generic timing diagram for a 4-way valve. All lands are nominally the same in this depiction, including the degree of overlap. The timing of the valve is affected by the way in which the spool lands are ground. If the PA and BT lands, for example, have excess material, it will cause the PA and BT curves to slide to the right on the axes. As grinding proceeds on the spool lands, the PA and BT curves will shift to the left, potentially resulting in under lap. The figure shows the overlap region; however, it is only an approximation. The overlap is best seen by viewing a conventional flow metering curve — in particular, the center region where slope may increase or decrease.
Another observation from Figure 3 is that one land serves as a prototype for all the others. The PA and BT lands are the same; so, too, are their mathematical models. But by virtue of the parameters used, they can have differing characteristics, just like real valve spools. For example, they may have different grinding, rated flows, spool-to-bore clearances, or different amounts of overlap. All can be explored with math models.
What about the PB and AT lands? They exhibit the same model as the PA and BT lands do, with a small exception. What the PA and BT lands do with positive spool displacements, the PB and AT lands do with negative spool displacements.
The intent here is to develop a modeling procedure that can be readily converted to computer code for inclusion in a simulation program. We will develop one subroutine for one land, then call the subroutine once for each land using the parameters unique to that land. But when calling the subroutine for the PB and AT lands, the sign of the spool movement will be reversed. The results will emulate those of Figure 3.
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