20 1O International Conference on Computer, Mechatronics, Control and Electronic Engineering (CMCE)

Modeling and Simulation of Proportional Fuel Flow Rate Control Valve

Zhang Xingyuan Zhang Xingyuan, Li Songjing

College of Mechanical Engineering Department of Fluid Control and Automation
Liaoning Technical Universit(LNTU) Harbin Institute of Technology(HIT)
Fuxin, China Harbin China
zxyuan00 1@ 163.com lisongj ing@hit.edu.cn

Abstract-A spool type fuel control valve is developed in this
paper to control the flow rate of high temperature fuel
supply for ramjet engines. The mathematical model of the
flow rate control valve is given and the simulation is done
using Matlab software. The proportional characteristic
curve, flow rate-pressure drop characteristic curve and step
response characteristic curve are obtained under different
working conditions. The result shows that the pressure drop,
inlet pressure and temperature have influence on the gaseous
flow rate. When the inlet pressure and outlet pressure are
constant, the valve's flow rate is linear to the input current.
Keywords- flow rate valve, proportional characteristic, flow­
pressure drop characteristic, step response
I. INTRODUCTION
Fuel supply control is the key technique for the
development of scramjet technology. It is of great
significance to provide fuel which has sufficient effective
energy, cooling capacity and fuel supply system for the
enhancement of scramjet efficiency and working mode.
The temperature of Scramjet engine is raised up by the
high speed combustion. Therefore the active cooling
method is necessary for scramjet engines, which means
that before going into the combustion chamber, the fuel
circulates across the engine surface as coolant. Hence the
temperature of fuel becomes as high as 400�500°C. This
results in more difficulties for the design of fuel supply
system. Because of the different thermal expansion of the
spool and sleeve in high temperature condition, there will
be larger leaka§.e or friction force between the valve sleeve
and the spool!l, ,3].
In order to analyze the static and dynamic
characteristics of the valve, the dynamic mathematical
The bellows' function is to seal the valve and return the
spool to the original position. Both of the valve and the
electromagnet are fIXed on a thermal insulation base, and
the electromagnet armature contact with the valve spool
end. So there is less thermal conduction between the
electromagnet and the valve. The spool is driven by the
electromagnet, and when the spool moves backward and
forward, the flow area of the ports is increased or
decreased.
The electromagnetic force of the electromagnet keeps
balance with the force of the bellows elastic force, friction
forces between the spool and the sleeve, flow forces. Then
the valve flow area maintains a constant value and the flow
rate is invariable. The flow rate can be changed through
regulating the electromagnetic force.
III. MATHEMATICAL MODELS!4]
Schematic diagram of proportional flow rate control
valve is shown in Fig. 2. Based on the schematic diagram,
every segment's mathematical model can be obtained.
Then the system's transfer function can be derived.
A. T ransfer function about the spool displacement xe
and input voltage Ug
The coil circuit voltage equation, armature's thrust
force equation, the equilibrium equation between the spool
and the bellows can be listed easily according to the Fig.2.
Based on those equations, Transfer function about the
spool displacement xe and input voltage ug can be
derived, as shown in ( 1), (2),(3).
KJUg (s) - KfiI(s)] - KbsXv (s) =

model of the valve is built in this paper. The proportional [(Re + rp ) + Les]I(s) ( 1)
characteristics, flow rate-pressure drop characteristics and
step response of the valve are simulated using Fe(s) KJ(s) + KxeXv(s)
= (2)
Matlab/Simulink. KJ(s) =

II. CONSTRUCTION OF THE VALVE (3)

The high temperature flow rate control valve mainly
consists of spool, sleeve, valve body, bellows, covers etc.
as shown in Fig. 1.
be llows cover spool sleeve val ve bod)'
proportional
electromagnetic
force amplifier P,

Fig.l. Construction of the valve Fig. 2. Schematic diagram of proportional flow rate control valve

978- 1-4244-7956-6/ 101$26.00 ©20 10 IEEE CMCE 20 10

612
 Where, Ke is amplification coefficient of DC
(PU :::; 0.S28 ) (S)
amplifier. ug (t) is preset voltage of amplifier(V). Kfi is Ps
negative feedback coefficient of current. i(t) is coil Where, f.i is flow rate coefficient. qm is gaseous fuel
flow masse kg/s ). k is the ratio of specific heat at constant
current(A). Kb is counter-electromotive force coefficient
pressure to specific heat at constant volume. R is gas
(V. slm ). Xv is armature (spool) displacement(m). Re is
constant (J/(kg. K) ). Pu is outlet pressure (Pa ). Ps is
single coil electric resistance( n). rp is amplifier inherent inlet pressure (Pa ). Ts is the temperature of the gas on
resistance ( n ). Le is coil inductance(H). fe (t) is inlet ( K ). OJ is the area gradient(m).
armature thrust force(N). K; is current-force gaining of It is obvious that transfer function about the gaseous
the electromagnet (N/A). Kxe is displacement-force fuel flow mass qm and spool displacement Xv is a
proportional element.
gaining of the electromagnet(N/m). m is mass of the
armature(kg). Be is damping coefficient (V. s/m ). Kem C. Block diagram about the gaseous fuel flow mass qm
is stiffuess of spring acting on armature (N/m) . Kse is and input voltage Ug

stiffuess of steady aerodynamic force acting on spool(N/m).

The transfer function block diagram about the gaseous
feL (t) is load force(N).
fuel flow mass qm and input voltage ug can be obtained
B. T ransfer function about the gaseous fuel flow mass based on the ( 1), (2), 0), (4) and (S) . It is
qm and spool displacement Xv shown in Fig.3.
According to the flow mass equation of the restrictive
IV. SIMULATIONS
valve, transfer function about the gaseous fuel flow mass
For the simulations, a program was developed in
qm and spool displacement Xv is obtained, as shown in (4)
MATLAB/ Simulink Software. Numerical simulations
and (S). have been performed in order to investigate the valve
performance. The Simulink model is shown in Fig. 4. The
results obtained from the simulations are presented in this
section.

( !!E.. > 0.S28 ) (4) A. Proportional characteristics

Ps The relationship between the gaseous mass flow rate
1 and the input current can be obtained when the system is
Qm(S) JIP w( 2_)k-l
_ 2k
K = =
s exerted a ramp signal, shown in Fig.S. The input pressure
q Xv(S) k+l R T s( k+l)
Ps is set as 10 MPa, and the outlet pressure is difference.

Qm(S)

-
m--:
s 2:-+-B-,-
oS-+ -K-,,�� &
�------IKbS�------�

Fig.3 Block diagram of proportional high temperature flow rate control valve

Gain5

m.s2 +be.s+(kem+kse)

Transfer Fcn1

Gain4 Gain1
Derivative

�------CKb�------�dw��------�

Gain2

Fig. 4 Simulink model of proportional high temperature gaseous fuel flow rate control valve

613
 It can be seen from Fig.5 that the gaseous mass flow V. CONCLUSIONS
rate is linear to the input current. The horizontal line is
From the analysis of the flow rate control valve, some
caused by the electromagnet stroke limit and the steady conclusions can be drawn as follows:
aerodynamic force has great influence on the flow rate.
1) Not only the pressure drop, but also the inlet
B. Step response characteristics pressure and temperature have influence on the gaseous
flow rate .
The system step response characteristics curve is
2) When the inlet pressure and outlet pressure are
obtained by matlab/Simulink model exerted step signal.
constant, the valve's flow rate is linear to the input current.
Fig.6 is the step response of proportional flow rate control
3) The steady aerodynamic force has great influence
valve at room temperature.
on the flow rate.
The spool and sleeve will expand at high temperature,
4) The temperature influence the valve's step response
so the damp will get bigger. It will effect the valve step
characteristics.
response characteristic. The step response at high
5) The outlet pressure has no influence on the flow rate
temperature(673K) is shown in Fig.7.
Compared with the Fig.7. It can be seen from Fig.6 that when Pu Ips < 0.528 , gaseous mass flow rate reduces
the rise time is shorter, the overshoot is bigger and the with the pressure drop when Pu Ips;::: 0.528 .
gaseous mass flow rate is larger.
REFERENCES
C. Flow rate-pressure drop characteristics
[I] Yonghong Li, "Thermodynamic Analysis of friction pairs inside a
Based on the (4) and (5), it can be obtained that the High Temperature Flow Rate Control Valve for Ramjet Engines ,"
gaseous mass flow rate is related to the ratio between the Harbin: Harbin Institute of Technology,June.2008, pp.2-3. (In
inlet pressure and outlet pressure. Chinese)
Flow-pressure drop characteristics curve is shown in [2] Su Donghai, Yang Jinglan, Ren Dalin, "Comparison of Electro­
hydraulic Proportional Valve and Electro-hydraulic Servo Valve on
Fig.8. We can know from Fig.8 that the outlet pressure has
Performances,"Hydraulics Pneumatics&Seals,NoA,2008,pp.I-4.
no influence on the flow rate (In Chinese)
when Pu Ips0.528 .When Pu / Ps � 0.528 , gaseous
< [3 ] Quan Long, Ma Jian, Wang Yongjin, "Research on the
Performance of New Type of Proportional Pressure and Flow
mass flow rate reduces with the pressure drop. And flow­ Control Valve," Chinese Journal of Mechanical
pressure drop characteristic curve decreases gently if the Engineering,voU6,Mar.2003,pp. 281-284.
spool displacement is small(Xv=O.3mm), the curve [4] Chen Qi, "Study of a proportional flow rate control valve for high
decreases steeply if the spool displacement is temperature gaseous fuel," Harbin: Harbin institute of
big(Xv=lAmm). technology ,June.2007,pp.7-18(In Chinese)

0.2 ,---�--�-----,
W "&;'015
0.1
' '

'on Pu=PSf1S--." {Y' ..... \ ....

e
.2 0.08
�. <1>
�
/ Pu=Psf1.3 � 0.1
....
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,/
//
002 /y-
//
o 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0 .6 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05
Cunellt(A) Time(s)
Fig. 5. Proportional characteristics of valve Fig. 6. Step response of the valve at 293K
0 . 1 2 F===
::: =
:::::::: :: :::;:�::::
:: ::: -
::;::: : -;--1
0.1 ,---�--�--��---, Xv=1 �m m,Ps=1 �MPa
01 , ,:
. r--:-:-...,..,�-=---:-::,:-::=--�
-.;...
Xv=1. mm,P s =10 MPa
0.08 W
"
�
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on
�:008
� ����������-
Xv=0 mm,P s=10:MPa
:gO06 <1>
�
� 0.06·
.2 Pul Ps" O. 528 ..
r:: 0.04 PulP s=111 .1 x v=0 ' mm,PS=10 MPa
0.04
� i !
�
o
� 002 0.02 r- -'-
x '--: 0:-:
v= PS-="-
:i-jm -m- ,=- O v1-:-:P:-
1 :± -+--i��
: 1 a

0.01 0.02 0.D3 0.04 0.05

Time(s) p.! p,
Fig.7. Step response of proportional flow rate Fig. 8. Flow-pressure drop characteristics of
control valve at high temperature proportional flow rate control valve

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