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Hydraulic Servo and Proportional Control Valves

Hydraulic control systems fall into two main group:
1- Digital control
2- Analog control

In digital system, the control signal can only have two states, on or off.
Example:


In analogue system, the signal is dependent upon the quantity being measured. The signal
can have any value between the limits set by the control device.
Example: Weighing machine


Servo Hydraulic Systems

Hydraulic servo systems generally fall into two groups-
Valve-Operated Servos: The valve-operated servo controls the amount of fluid flowing into
the system from the pump. This can generates considerable heat resulting in an efficient
system.

Pump-Operated Servos: The pump-operated servo adjusts the delivery of a variable-
displacement pump to the required flow rate. This gives more efficient system with less
energy loss.


Valve Servo Systems
Flow through the control orifice is usually considered to be turbulent and the quantity of a
fluid flowing can be given by:

P x A K Q ) ( =
Where Q is flow, A is orifice area, dP is the pressure drop over the
orifice and K is a constant which may include the function of the orifice
characteristics, velocity of the fluid and the Rynolds Number.
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The flow from zero lap spool is directly proportional to the spool movement
The overlap spool has a dead zone in which no flow occurs; this dead zone is equal to the
overlap.
An underlap valve gives a high flow rate when the spool is in the underlap area near zero
displacement or null point. A servo valve usually incorporates an underlap spool to achieve
high response rates near the null point.

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Electro- Hydraulic Servo Valves




Servo types:
1. Directly operated spool-type servo valve
2. Flapper valve servo
3. J et pipe servo





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For directly operated spool-type servo valve, to overcome the effects of static spool friction
and improve valve response, the spool is kept constantly moving by superimposing a dither
signal upon the control signal. The dither signal is a very low amplitude alternating current at
approximately 100 Hz.


Proportional Valves

In proportional valves, a proportional solenoid is used to drive the spool of the valve. This can
be utilized in the design of a proportional DC solenoid in which the force exerted by the
armature is proportional to the current flowing and independent of the armature movement
over the working range of the solenoid.





Force Position Control
The electrical control to the proportional valve normally uses a variable current rather than
a variable voltage. Should a voltage control system be adopted, any variation in coil
resistance, caused by a temperature change, will result in a change of current although the
voltage remains fixed. This problem is eliminated by using a current control system.
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Overlapped spools are used in proportional spool valves
This means that the spool has to move a distance equal to the overlap before any flow
occurs through the valve; this gives rise to a dead zone in the valve characteristics.
Using notched spools in the proportional valves gives better control of the flow rate as the
orifice is progressively opened.






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Spool position Control


Open loop spool position control






Closed loop spool position control



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Proportional Pressure Control
In pressure control valves, the spring is replaced by a DC solenoid in the case of proportional
valves.


Single-stage proportional-relief valves






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