A Simulation Methodology Applied on Hydraulic Valves for High Fluxes

A mathematical modeling approach for the study of a directional valve is proposed in this paper. The analyzed valve is a High flow 6-way directional valve, with nominal flow-rate of 2500 l/min and maximum inlet pressure of 26 bar that is used for safety shut down for Power Plants. The final goal is to obtain the best energy efficiency of the valve, request by this specific application. The study is addressed to the design optimization of hydraulic components using a simulation methodology. The analysis has been performed through a three-dimensional CFD modeling technique by using the commercial code PumpLinx®, developed by Simerics®. This approach allows the study also of particular applications, like the valve analyzed, where the experimentation is complex and expensive with a high reduction of the component’s development phase. This paper is the first part of a research focused on the core design optimization by using a 3D CFD simulation methodology. With the modeling technique, the flow behavior has been deeply studied by visualizing the pressure, the velocity and the kinetic energy on several valve’s sections. A model for the turbulence has been implemented in the simulation. Several new designs of the valve core have been modeled and the final geometry has achieved the goal of this first part of the study.