Valves

If the pump is the heart of a hydraulic system then the valve is the brain.
Valves are used to perform a large variety of governing and controlling functions.

Aspects of classification
Form: Function:
a) Spherical Poppet • pressure control valves
b) c) d) e) Conical valve • flow control valves
f) Plate • check valves (non-return valves)
g) Spool valve • directional control valves

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 Valves
Pressure control valves:
• pressure relief valves • pressure difference valve
• pressure reducing valves • pressure ratio valve

Pressure relief valve

Has the task to limit the pressure in a hydraulic system or in a part of the system.
The pressure can rise in a hydraulic system if:

- the flow rate from the pump is larger than the flow rate through the actuator
- the volume of a closed system is reduced
- the load of the actuator rises
- heat is introduced into a closed system
- the hydraulic resistance of the system rises

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 Valves
Pressure relief valve
Symbol
x N
A k C 
m
Fspring

psy
s
Qp

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 Pressure relief valve
Theoretical basics
Force equilibrium: Curtain surface:

psys  A  FS  FS 0  c  x (1) Circumference ∙ height = k ∙ x = Ac

Bernoulli equation:
2p 2 psys
Qrv  Ac  v  k  x     k  x   (2)   0,6...0,7
f f
2 FS 0  cx
Qrv  k    x   (3)
f A
psys  A  FS 0
Qrv depends nonlinearly on x or if we express x from (1) x 
c
then:
psys  A  FS 0 2
Qrv  k      psys (4)
c f

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 Pressure relief valve
Theoretical basics:
*
Let psys be the pressure when the valve just opens (x = 0)

psys  A  FS 0  subst. to (4)

(5)

Qrv  k  
 p sys

 psysA

2
 psys 
k   A

2
 
 psys  psys  psys
c f c f
 
 const
(5) is valid from x = 0 to x = xmax, xmax being the displacement when the spring is
completely compressed
0  x  xmax

If p > pmax : 

Qrv  const  pmax  psys 
 psys  const  psys

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 Pressure relief valve
Theoretical basics:

Qrv

*
psys psys
pmax
negative part: belongs to xmax
physically impossible

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 Pressure relief valve
Hydraulic aggregate:
The simplest hydraulic system
Pump + pressure relief valve

Qp psys Qag user

Qrv

reservoir

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 Hydraulic aggregate

Let us derive the characteristics of the complete aggregate. Parallel circuit so:
Q p  Qrv  Qag  Qag  Q p  Qrv

Qrv psys n = n1 < n = n2

Qpump
= =

= =

*
psys

Qag1 Qag2

Qrv Qpump
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 Pressure relief valve

The pressure relief valve always has to be matched with the pump.
If for example the rotational speed is increased (orange curve)  then there
will be flow through the aggregate even with higher pressure. Wrong!
The last section of the curve has to be at the negative Q plane.

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 Pressure relief valve
Versions:
There are various versions of pressure relief valves:
1. Directly operated → ← pilot operated
2. Self-operated → ← externally operated

The self-operated valve is controlled by its own pressure, whereas the externally
operated valve is controlled by an outside pressure.

Directly operated – already explained.

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 Pilot operated pressure relief valve

Pilot operated is applied when large flow rates have to be controlled. Consists of
two valves:
At higher flow rates the losses at a directly operated valve would be very large.
Another problem is that with high flow rate the dynamics of the valve gets worse.
k   A 2
Valve constant has to be increased: C  
c f
The area can be increased but this increases size and costs and worsens the
sensitivity of the control.
The spring constant can be decreased but this increase against the size. (Large
preloading is necessary.) Again bad for dynamics.
Solution: two valves: pilot operated valve
- Main valve (low c)
- Pilot valve (high c)

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 Pressure relief valve
Pilot operated:

Q
p1 Thr p2
x
spring 1

A spring 1
main pilot
valve valve

p1 is the system pressure that has to be limited.

The valve is closed as long as the limit pressure is not reached at the pilot valve.

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 Pressure relief valve
Pilot operated:
In this case the pressure p1 acts on both sides of the valve and the valve is in
equilibrium: p1 = p2.
In the pressure rises above the limiting pressure of the pilot valve then the pilot valve
opens.
A flow starts through the throttling valve so that p1 > p2.
If A(p1-p2) > FS01 (preload force of spring 1) then the main valve also starts to open.
This is more favourable because it allows a softer spring in the main valve.
The pilot valve can be spatially separated from the main valve – the control can be
exercised from a distance.
More favourable static characteristics
Better dynamic characteristics

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 Pressure relief valves
Pilot-operated pressure relief valve
1 - Main valve
2 - Pilot valve
3 – Main spool
4 - 5 - 11 - Throttle
6 - 7 - 13 - Operation
line
8 - Valve body
9 - Spring
15 - Discharging
1 - főszelep, 2 - elővezérlő szelep,
3 - főtolattyú, 4 - 5 - 11 - fojtás,
6 - 7 - 13 - vezérlő vezeték,
8 - szeleptest, 9 - rugó,
15 - tehermentesítés

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 Pressure relief valve
Characteristic curves of pressure relief valves Simplified symbol of
a pilot operated
p1 directly operated pressure relief valve
pilot operated
ideal

Qrv

Applications of pressure relief valves:

- Safety valve (most common)
- Overflow valve (pressure source always open produces large losses,
should be used only for small power)
- Sequence valves (turn-on or turn-off)

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 Pressure relief valve
Safety valve and overflow valve:

p
Qp
Qs
p p

RV pl RV pl

Safety valve Overflow valve (pressure source)

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 Pressure relief valve
Sequence valves:
“Turn-on” valve is used when two or more users are fed by the same pump.
When one working step is finished , the pressure rises and a second user is
switched through the valve.

“Turn-off” valve is applied when two pumps (one high pressure, one low
pressure) work in parallel. If the pressure is high enough then only the high
pressure pump works.
If the pressure drops below the limiting value of RV1 then the valve closes and
the pump delivers into the system again.

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 Pressure relief valve
Sequence valves:
Sequence valve (turn on) Q p > QS

pl1

RV2 pl2 RV1

Sequence valve (turn off)

Check valve Here the RV1 is an
externally operated
Q valve.
HPP
pl1

RV2 pl2 LPP

RV1

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 Pressure relief valves
Dynamic behaviour of pressure relief valves:

Sudden opening or closing leads to oscillations of the valve.

Stationary characteristics depend only on the valve, dynamics characteristics
depend on the whole system.
The dynamic behaviour can be tested by a sudden application of the pressure
on the valve.

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 Pressure relief valve
Dynamic behaviour of pressure relief valves:
p1 V1 V2 V3
p1
Qp Qrv
DV p

RV
t

Test rig V1 < V2 < V3

First linear rise, then damped
V is the volume of fluid between pump
oscillation.
and valve → capacity and inductivity
There is a differential equation changes.
system which can be solved to
simulate the process.

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 Big pictures
End of normal presentation
Beginning of big pictures

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 Valves
Form a) Spherical Poppet f) Plate
b) c) d) e) Conical valve g) Spool valve

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 Valves
Pressure
relief
valve

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 Valves
Pressure
relief
valve

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 Valves
Pressure relief valve

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 Valves
Pressure relief valve

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 Valves
Pressure relief valve
Symbol
x N
A k C 
m
Fspring

psy
s
Qp

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