Operate this hydraulic flow control valve simulation
Suggested exercises and observations
1. Select the 'Uncontrolled cylinder drop' from drop-down menu 2. Click the question mark (?) and sound button for additional advice.
♦ Raise and lower the cylinder
♦ Observe how the cylinder falls dangerously without any flow control.
2. Select the 'Meter-out flow control' from drop-down menu 3.
♦ Raise and lower the cylinder with the meter-out flow control valve operating.
♦ Observe how the cylinder is now lowered safely.
♦ Observe that the raise and lower orifice sizes are different.
♦ Note which orifice controls the raise and which orifice the lower speeds.
♦ Change the load on the cylinder.
♦ Observe how the line pressures vary with different cylinder loads
♦ Observe how the line pressures and cylinder speeds vary with different flow settings.
3. Click the rounded barrel recycle button above the FCV to select the 'Meter-in flow control'.
♦ Note which orifice controls the raise and which the lower speeds.
♦ Observe how the cylinder lowering is not properly controlled.
♦ Change the load on the cylinder.
♦ Observe how the line pressures vary with different cylinder loads and flow settings.
Experiment 1: Flow control valves can be used in meter-in or meter-out configurations.
Question 1: Which is the more commonly used and why?
Experiment 2: Pressure compensated valves maintain a constant pressure drop across them and therefore maintain a relatively constant flow.
Question 2: What is the most likely reason a pressure compensated valve is used?
Experiment 3: Flow control valves can cost a few pence to several hundred Dollars
Question 3: What benefits are likely from using the more expensive versions?