Engineering and Technology College

Department of Manufacturing
Engineering
Electro-Mechanical Control Systems
CH-2:
Fluid Power Control Elements
Prepared by Hailemariam B. (MSc)
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 2.1. Fluid Power Control Elements
Control elements are valves which are used to control
the pressure, flow, and direction of the fluid flow.
A valves are defined as any devices by which the flow of
fluid may be started, stopped, regulated, or directed.
If control system components are not properly selected,
the entire system will not function as required.
Also the selection of valves involves the type, size,
actuating techniques etc. of the system.

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 2.2. 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
2.2.1. Directional Control Valves (DCV)
DCVs are used to control the direction of flow in a hydraulic circuit.
It can also start, stop, accelerate, decelerate, and change the direction
of motion of a hydraulic actuator.
This control of the fluid path is accomplished by check valves,
shuttle valves, two-way, three-way, four-way and five-way valves.
Direction control valve may be actuated by manual, electrical,
hydraulic, pneumatic, and mechanical actuator or combination of
these. 3
 What are the types of directional control valves?
1. Check valve-allows fluid to flow through it in only one direction
2. Three-, and four-way valves 4. Pilot actuated valve
3. Manually actuated valve 5. Shuttle valve
6. Solenoid actuated valve
Classifications of DCV: According to the port type: Two- Three-, and four-way valves as
shown below

Mid Position
 1. Check Valve
• The simplest type of directional control valve and it’s purpose is
to permit free flow in one direction and prevent any flow in the
opposite 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 a check valve allows the pump to unload via the
pressure regulating valve, while still maintaining system
pressure from the accumulator.

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3. Blocked filter protection and suction blocking
and Symbols Pipe Lines
• A check valve is used to protect a blocked filter by
diverting flow around the filter when pressure rises.
• A check valve is also included in the tank return to
prevent fluid being sucked out of the tank when the
pump is turned off.

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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
In a poppet valve, simple discs, cones or balls are used
in conjunction with simple valve seats to control flow.

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7. Circuit symbols for directional control valves (1)
 7. Circuit symbols for directional control valves (2)
This illustration shows the
circuit symbols for 4/2- and
5/2-way valves.
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 (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
 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 17

8. Solenoid-actuated DCV

Working of solenoid to shift spool of valve 18

8. Solenoid-actuated DCV

Two Switches
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8. Solenoid-Actuated DCV

Electro-Pneumatic Control Circuit 20

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.
Cont..
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.
Sliding spool – in this type the spool will slide in a bore axially,
and the spool is also classified as two types as the closed center and
open center spool.
The closed center spool blocks all valve ports from each other in a
normal position while the open center spool all valve ports are
open to each other when the valve is in normal position.
2.2.2. 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
 2.2.3. 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
 Meter-In and Meter-Out
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.
Cont..
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) 33
2.3. Working principle and Construction

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 THANK YOU
FOR YOUR
ATTENTION!!!