Engineering and Technology College

Department of MEng & MaEng

FP & Electro-Mechanical Control
Systems
CH-3:
Fluid Power Control Elements
Prepared by Hailemariam B. (MSc)
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 3.1. Fluid Power Control Elements
Fluid Power Control elements are valves which are used
to control the pressure, flow, and direction of the fluid
flow.
Valves are devices by which the flow of fluid may be
started, stopped, regulated, accelerated, decelerated, or
directed.
Valves can be used to control the timing of various
operations in a fluid power circuit and then open or close
to direct the flow of fluid accordingly.
Valves can be used to sense the load on a particular part
of the circuit and then open or close to direct the flow of
fluid accordingly.
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 3.2. Types of Control Valves
There are three basic common types of valves commonly and
frequently used in any industry and which are classified by their
intended uses as follow:
1) Directional control valve
2) Pressure control valve
3) Flow control valve
3.2.1. Directional Control Valves (DCV)
DCVs are used to control the direction of flow in a fluid power
system circuit.
DCVs actuated by manual, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and
mechanical actuator or combination of these.
This control of the fluid path is accomplished by check valves,
shuttle valves, two-way, three-way, four-way and five-way valves.
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 Types of directional control valves
1. Check valve-allows fluid to flow through it in only one
direction
2. Two-, Three-, four-, and five-way valves
3. Manually actuated valve
4. Pilot actuated valve
5. Shuttle valve
6. Solenoid actuated valve
1. Check Valve
• The simplest type of directional control valve is check valve and
it’s purpose is to allow free flow only in one direction.
• Check valve consists of a valve body, a ball or a poppet and a
light spring, which hold ball or poppet on valve seat.
• In one direction oil flow lifts the poppet/ball against spring force,
and passes to the other side.
• While in reverse direction ball/poppet sits on valve seat and do
not allow the flow of oil.

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 2. An accumulator
• Here an accumulator is a device which is used to store a
fluid.

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3. Symbols Pipe Lines

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4. Shuttle Valves (OR Gate Valve)
• A shuttle valve, also known as a double check valve, allows
pressure in a line to be obtained from alternative sources.
• Construction is very simple and consists of a ball inside a cylinder.
• If pressure is applied to port X, the ball is blown to the fight
blocking port Y and linking ports X and A.
• Similarly, pressure to port Y alone connects ports Y and A and
blocks port X. The symbol of a shuttle valve is given.

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5. Twin Pressure (AND Gate) Valves, FRL Valves
• This directional control valve operates two cylinder
simultaneously using air pressure.
• Hence also they are using shuttle valve and push button valve.

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6. Push button Valve or poppet valve
According to the internal moving part construction
 Poppet type – in which a piston or ball moves on and off the
seats.

Simple 2/2 poppet valve

 Rotary type – in this type the spool rotates about its axis.
7. Circuit symbols for directional control valves (1)

3/2 meaning 3 ports in 2

boxes

There are two general methods for

the designation of ports, using
either the letters P, T, R, A, B
and L or consecutively using A,
B, C, D etc.;
The first method is the preferred
one in the relevant standard.
 7. Circuit symbols for directional control valves (2)
Classifications of DCV: According to the port type: Two- Three-, and four-way valves as
shown below

Mid Position
7. Circuit symbols for directional control valves (3)
• The illustration shows the circuit symbols for 4/3-way
valves with various mid-positions.
 7. Circuit symbols for manual operation

The switching position of a

directional control valve can be
changed by various actuation
methods.
The symbol for the valve is
accordingly supplemented by a
symbol indicating the actuation
methods shown, such as
pushbuttons and pedals, a spring
is always necessary for resetting.
Resetting can, however, also be
achieved by actuating the valve a
second time, for example in the
case of valves with hand levers
and detents.
7. Circuit symbols for mechanical actuation
• This illustration shows the symbols for stem or push
button, spring and roller stem.
7. Circuit Symbols for Hydraulic Actuation
Cylinders
Actuation Methods: How to actuate the directional control valves?
Actuation is the process of moving the valve element from one position to another. So in a
directional control valve, there are four methods of actuation they are manual, mechanical,
solenoid-operated, and pilot-operated.
Methods of actuating DCVs Circuit symbols for Different Actuation Systems

Pilot-Operated Check Valve

A second type of check valve is the pilot-operated check valve along with its graphic symbol.
This type of check valve always permits free flow in one direction but permits flow in the
normally blocked opposite direction only if pilot pressure is applied at the pilot pressure port of
the valve.
The dashed line (which is part of the graphic symbol represents the pilot pressure line
connected to the pilot pressure port of the valve. Pilot check valves are frequently used for
locking hydraulic cylinders in position.

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How Directional Control Valves Are Classified?
According to the port type
1) Two-way valves
This type of valve can direct the flow of the pump to either of two
paths of the circuit. The spool that is used in this valve would be two-
way two-position valves and these valves are normally open.
2) Three-way valves
This type has three ports and they are mostly spool designed rather
than poppet designed. These valves may block or allow the fluid flow
from the inlet to the outlet. These valves have three inlets and they are
pressure inlet, an outlet to the system, and return to the tank.
3) Four-way valves
These valves are capable to control double-acting hydraulic cylinder
and it can also control bidirectional motors. Four-way DCV valves
has four ports in which two of them would be outlet ports and the
other two would be pressure inlet and return to the tank.
 8. Solenoid-Actuated DCV
A solenoid valves are used to convert electrical energy to
mechanical energy. When an electric current passes
through the solenoid coil (electric armature coil), an
electromagnetic field (force) will be produced (See
below). Inside the armature coil, there is armature
cylinder and inside the armature cylinder, there is a spring
and plunger (See next slide). So, the generated
electromagnetic force pushes the plunger to close or open
the valve and return to its original position by the spring
when the switch is off.

Working of solenoid to shift spool of valve 20

8. Solenoid-actuated DCV

Working of solenoid to shift spool of valve 21

8. Solenoid-actuated DCV

Two Switches
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8. Solenoid-Actuated DCV

Electro-Pneumatic Control Circuit 23

 Meter-In and Meter-Out (Check Valve)
Meter-In: Let see on the flow control Meter-Out: Let see on the flow control valve
valve and check valve direction. Flow and check valve direction. Flow speed-in is high
speed-in is low but flow speed-out is but flow speed-out is low in both extension and
high in both extension and retraction. retraction.
3.2.2. Pressure Control Valves (PCV)
Controls the system over pressure. There are
many types of automatic pressure control valves.
Some of them merely provide an escape for
excess pressures; some only reduce the pressure;
and some keep the pressure within a preset range.
Two types: Direct acting & Pilot operated
Pressure control Valve.

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Circuit symbol for pressure Control valves
 The differences between a pilot operated valve
and a relief valve?
Pilot-operated valves and relief valves are both types of
pressure valves used in various industries to protect
equipment and systems from overpressure situations. While
they serve similar purposes, there are some key differences
between the two:
• Relief Valve: Relief valves typically sense the pressure
directly at the valve inlet.
• Pilot-Operated Valve: Pilot-operated valves use a separate
pilot system to sense the pressure, which then controls the
operation of the main valve.
 3.2.3. Flow Control Valves (FCVs)
Control of fluids is very much necessary since the speed of
the machine elements depends on the rate of flow of the
pressurized hydraulic fluid.
Primary function of FCVs is velocity control of hydraulic
cylinders, speed control of hydraulic motors and controls the
flow rate to these actuators.
 It can have an opening that can be changed manually,
mechanically, or electronically. It can also have a flow control
pilot that senses the pressure difference and commands to
throttle or open.
 Types of flow control valves

Orifice valve
Adjustable needle valve
Gate valve
Orifice Valve
Orifice is used to determine flow rate by measurement of
pressure drop between inlet and exit. It is also used to
control the flow rate. The area of the orifice is fixed.
For a given orifice, there is a unique relationship between
pressure drop (Δp) and flow rate (ℚ).
The greater the flow rate, the greater will be the pressure
drop and vice versa for a given orifice.
An orifice can also be used as a flow control device. As
seen from the smaller the orifice area, the smaller will be
the flow rate and vice versa for a given pressure drop.
 Needle Valve
Needle valves are designed to give fine control of flow in
small-diameter piping. Their name is derived from their
sharp, pointed conical disk and matching seat.
Needle valves are adjustable valves that will allow the
change of flow rate. Usually a tapered needle is used to
control the flow rate by adjusting a screw.
For a given opening position, a needle valve behaves as
an orifice. However, unlike un orifice, the flow area (A)
in a needle valve can be varied.
Variable Flow control valve (FCV) 32
 Cont..
The relationship between the flow rate, pressure differential,
and the size or opening of the throttle element can be
described by the following equation:
Q = Cd  A  √(2  ΔP / ρ)
Where:
Q = Flow rate
Cd = Discharge coefficient (a dimensionless value that
accounts for the geometry of the throttle element) (0.68)
A = Cross-sectional area of the throttle element
ΔP = Pressure differential across the throttle element (P1-
P2)
ρ = Fluid density
 Cont..
Let's examine how each of these factors influences the flow
rate:
Pressure Differential (ΔP):
• The flow rate is directly proportional to the square root of the
pressure differential across the throttle element.
• As the pressure differential increases, the flow rate will
increase, assuming all other factors remain constant.
Cross-sectional Area (A):
• The flow rate is directly proportional to the cross-sectional
area of the throttle element.
• Increasing the size of the orifice or the opening of the flow
control valve will result in a higher flow rate.
 Cont..
Discharge Coefficient (Cd):
• The discharge coefficient is a dimensionless value that
accounts for the geometry and flow characteristics of the
throttle element.
• It typically ranges from 0.6 to 1.0 and can be provided by the
manufacturer or determined experimentally.
• A higher discharge coefficient will result in a higher flow
rate.
Fluid Density (ρ):
• The flow rate is inversely proportional to the square root of
the fluid density.
• Fluids with lower densities, such as air, will generally have
higher flow rates through the throttle element compared to
fluids with higher densities, like hydraulic oil.
 EXAMPLE
Air passes through a 1⁄2cm-diameter orifice having a
discharge coefficient of 0.68. If the upstream pressure is
80 Pa, what is the maximum flow of air? Assuming
density of air as 1.2kg/m^2 and The maximum flow rate
occurs when the orifice is choked (P2 = 0.53P1).

Solution:
Q = Cd  A  √(2  ΔP / ρ)
 THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!!!