Proposal of a Load Sensing Two-Way Valve Model, Applying “Design of Experiments” Techniques to Simulations

This paper defines an analytical model, based on results of simulations, for the description of the actual behaviour of a particular load sensing valve. The component considered for the analysis is typically applied in steering systems, with a load sensing control strategy, in presence of other actuators. Controlling the primary port flow rate is the valve's scope, the exceeding flow being discharged to the secondary port. A simple analytical model of the valve is commonly used in the industrial field and is useful for the understanding of its operation in a generic hydraulic system. However, experiments show that the actual behaviour is strongly influenced by the flow rate through the valve, and depends also on many geometrical parameters (i.e. shape of spool grooves, spool edges distance, etc.). The simple empirical model presented in this paper is defined considering only parameters primarily affecting the valve operation. As it often happens in searching for new models, the discovery of the most influencing factors presents several difficulties, because of their large number and, mainly, because it is difficult to consider all possible mutual interactions. Therefore, in this analysis, a stochastic-based method has been chosen, according to a technique known as "Design of Experiments" (DOE). In the first part of the paper, the author presents a screening analysis of the valve, under all the possible operating conditions. This procedure allows the identification of the most influencing parameters, for the development of the enhanced model of the valve. The configurations examined were chosen defining an optimal experimental plan, that allows an high significance of results with a restricted number of tests, through fractional factorial strategies. Further, this analysis gives a lot of useful information for the improvement of the valve design. In the remaining section of this paper, the author presents a correlative model of actual valve behaviour. This is generalized to a wide range of possible spool geometries, and is characterized by a simple formulation, accounting for only a few parameters, highlighted by the screening analysis. All results processed by DOE algorithms, implemented with MATLAB® scripts, are evaluated through simulations, instead of experiments. For this purpose, a previously developed AMESim® model of the valve (validated on the basis of laboratory tests) has been utilized.Copyright © 2006 by ASME