ME 4232: Fluid Power Control Lab 

University of Minnesota 
Prof. Perry Y. Li 

Pressure Compensated Flow Control (PCFC) Valve Exercise 

ANSWER KEY

 
In this exercise, we estimate the sensitivity of flow rate to pressure variation (dQ/dΔp) of a PCFC valve and 
study the effect of have two different spring stiffnesses. Instead of changing dΔp and finding the resulting 
dQ, we specify dQ and calculate dΔp. 
 
● Suppose that the adjustable orifice is adjusted to obtain a nominal desired flow rate of 30 LPM and the 
ΔpCB (i.e pC − pB ) is 10MPa.   
● At this nominal flow rate, the variable orifice is halfway open and its pressure drop ΔpAC is also 10MPa.  
● Hence, the nominal total pressure drop across the PCFC is ΔpAB = 20MPa. 
● The variable orifice is rectangular with a variable height x between 0cm and 0.5cm. i.e. at the nominal 
flow rate, the opening height is x=0.25cm. 
● The compensator spool has an area of Aspool = 1.0 cm​2 
 

We will study ΔpAB when Q=33LPM (10% more than nominal). 

 
1. If Q = 33LPM, what is the pressure drop ΔpCB across the adjustable orifice? 

Q = α√Δp So α = 30 LP M /√10M P a = 33 LP M
√Δp CB, new  

⇒ ΔpCB,new = (1.1)2 10M P a = 12.1M P a  

2. For the compensator spool to move 0.05cm and 0.2cm from the nominal position, what spring stiffnesses 
k​A​, and k​B​ are necessary?  
Hook’s Law: F = kΔx . In our case, F = 12.1M P a * 1cm2 = 121kN  
k A = 121kN /0.05cm = 242M N /m k B = 121kN /0.2cm = 60.5M N /m  
3. Will the valve opening height x increase or decrease? ​It will decrease (spool moves up), reducing flow 

Created 1/29/2020
 4. Find the ΔpAC (across the variable orifice) and then the ΔpAB (across the whole valve) for both springs 
In the nominal case, when x = 0.25cm , we have 30LP M = β 0 √10M P a for some coefficient β 0  
For case A: x decreases from 0.25cm to 0.2cm. Since β is proportional to x , β A = β 0 0.2/0.25 so that 
= (1.1/0.8)2 10M P a = 18.9MPa  
33LP M = 0.8 β 0
ΔpAB
√ ΔpAC, A . This gives Δp
= (18.9 + 12.1)M P a = 31M P a . dQ/dP
AC,A
= (3/31) LP M /M P a   
 
A similar calculation for case B gives ΔpAC,A = (1.1/0.2)10M P a = 55M P a , ΔpAB = 67.1M P a and  
5. Estimate the flow sensitivities dQ/dΔp for both springs.  
Case A: dQ/dP = (3/31) LP M /M P a = 97 LPM/kPa  
Case B: dQ/dP = (3/67.1) LP M /M P a = 44.7 LPM/kPa 
6. Which spring is better? ​Spring B is much better.  
 
 

Revised 01/15/2021 2