The design and simulation analysis of a rotary valve based on FLUENT

In order to realize the functional requirements of hydraulic cylinder installing in the leg of the rehabilitation robots, a new type of servo rotary valve was designed with an introduction of its structure. The spool in rotary valve may have different locations when the actual working conditions are different. To know the flow field of rotary valve above case we have done a thorough numerical analysis. In the next step the basic theory of the numerical simulation, including the modeling, meshing and parameterization, is explained. The research of the flow field in rotary valve is treated in detail by using a fluid dynamics simulation tool, FLUENT. And through simulation the results including the pressure of internal flow, velocity distribution and the flow coefficient characteristic curve of the valve with various opening degree were obtained. Besides, we also drew the curves of pressure and velocity differences, and found the main reasons for the energy loss through the valve under different conditions, which could provide a theoretical basis for structure optimization of the rotary valve, motor selection or even an experimental instruction of the rehabilitation robot later.