Flow Control Valves

Adjustable Orifice
or Needle Valve

Check Valve

Flow Control Valve

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Flow Control Valves
• Flow control valves control the flow rate in a
circuit.
• They accomplish this by incorporating a
variable orifice that acts like a faucet, closing
the orifice reduces the flow rate while
opening the orifice increases the flow rate and
hence the speed of the actuator
Adjustable Orifice
Allows fluid to pass through the
valve in both directions.
• Needle Valve
Adjusting Handle
Fluid flows most efficiently when
traveling in the direction where
the fluid enters the Cone Seat
first , then passes around the
Tapered Cone and out the Outlet.
(less turbulent flow path) Taper cone

As the Taper Cone is lowered

down towards the Cone Seat by
turning in the adjusting handle
the size of the fluid path through Cone Seat
the valve is reduced
Preferred Flow Direction

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

Needle Valve Operation
 CV Factor of Valves
• The flow coefficient of a valve describes the
relationship between pressure drop and flow
rate for a valve mathematically
• Manufactures of valves (all valves) publish the
CV factor of the valve
• They allow water to flow through the valve for
a given period of time will measuring the
amount of fluid which passes from inlet to
outlet and at what pressure difference
CV Equation
 Flow
In this circuit, there is only one flow path for the fluid. All the flow must travel
through the adjustable orifice. The full GPM produced by the pump must travel
through the valve.

10 GPM

10
GPM 10 GPM

Therefore; the Flow Rate through the valve is

said to be 10 GPM
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
 Flow Rate

The volume of fluid passing through any conductor per unit

of Time
Gallons or Liters per minute

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

Reducing the Size of the Adjustable
Orifice

10 GPM

10
GPM 10 GPM

In this circuit, reducing the size of the orifice doesn’t change the Flow Rate
through the orifice… AGREE?

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Fluid’s Velocity
The speed of fluid flow through a hydraulic line. Expressed in feet per
minute.

10 GPM

10
GPM 10 GPM

Therefore; in this circuit , as the orifice size is reduced the flow rate in
the circuit remains the same but the velocity of the fluid speeds up as it
passes through the orifice…. So What?
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
This Characteristic is Know as
Bernoulli’s Principle

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

Reducing the Size of the Adjustable
Orifice Does What?

10 GPM

10
GPM 10 GPM

Reducing the size of the orifice in this circuit does not control GPM but
merely adds resistance to the circuit. Therefore an Adjustable Orifice must
work in conjunction with another valve to control Speed of an Actuator.

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

Adjustable Orifice Adds Resistance

PG1 PG2

The Adjustable Orifice whether it is fully passing or partially passing adds

resistance to the flow path which can be seen by installing pressure
gauges at its inlet and outlet ports

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Pressure Drop Across the Valve
PG1 PG2

By reducing the size of the orifice, resistance to flow through the orifice is
increased as indicated by a gauge placed at the valves inlet (PG1 pressure gauge)

A pressure gauge located at the valves outlet (PG2) will always indicate the
pressure created by the load. (IE: a cylinder or motor)

The difference in pressures at PG1 and PG2 is referred to as pressure drop

across the orifice. P
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
Adjustable Orifice and Relief Valve
Relationship

In this circuit, the fluid as two possible flow paths:

1.Through the Adjustable Orifice
2.Through the Relief Valve

Remember, fluid will always take the path of least resistance !!!!

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Adjustable Orifice and Relief Valve
Relationship
Two Flow Path Options (parallel)

Only when the resistance created by the adjustable orifice size causes pressure at its
inlet to reach the relief valve setting will the flow rate (GPM) through the orifice be
reduced . The fluid flow will split based on the resistance relationship between the
orifices resistance and the relief valves resistance.
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
Flow Splits Based on Resistance

Pressure cause by orifice size =

1000 PSIG

10 GPM
5 GPM 5 GPM

Relief Valve Setting 1000 PSIG

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Speed of a Cylinder
Piston Area Piston
Rod

Effective Area

The speed of a cylinder is proportion to the flow rate (volume per time) ÷ Area to be
filled in square inches

Speed (inches per minute) = Volume in cubic inches per minute ÷ Area (in square
inches)

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Traditional Circuit Speed
Mathematics
Traditional Cylinder Speed: Flow rate from Pump = 12 gpm
Cylinder Piston Diameter: 6 inches
Cylinder Rod Diameter: 3 inches
Cylinder stroke Length is 10 inches

Area of Piston = d² X .7854 Area of Rod = 3² X .7854

= 6² X .7854 = 7.06 sq.in
= 28.27 sq. in. Effective Area = Piston area – Rod Area
= 28.27- 7.06
= 21.21 sq. in.

Speed Advance (in. per min.) = Flow Rate (cu.in. per minute) ÷ Area (sq. in.)
= (12 X 231) ÷ 28.27
= 98 in. per minute

Speed Retract (in. per min.) = (12 X231) ÷ 21.21

= 131in. Per minute
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
 Adjustable Orifice to slow down
the Speed of a Cylinder in both
directions

The Adjustable Orifice in this circuit would control the speed of the cylinder in
both the Extend and Retract motion of the cylinder buy becoming a parallel
path back to tank. Therefore; the flow divides based on resistance
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
 Bleed Off…Metering
8 GPM

12 GPM
1000

4 GPM

Bleed off circuit in this location controls the speed of the cylinder in both direction

If the flow into the cylinder is 8 gpm and the flow through the adjustable orifice
is 4 gpm. What do we know about the resistances in the two parallel flow
paths

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Bleed-off Speed Mathematics
Traditional Cylinder Speed: Pump Flow = 12 gpm
Cylinder Piston Diameter: 6 inches Bleed-off Flow = 4 gpm
Cylinder Rod Diameter: 3 inches Flow to cylinder = 12 - 4 = 8 gpm
Cylinder stroke Length is 10 inches

Area of Piston = d² X .7854 Area of Rod = 3² X .7854

= 6² X .7854 = 7.06 sq.in
= 28.27 sq. in. Effective Area = Piston area – Rod Area
= 28.27- 7.06
= 21.21 sq. in.

Speed Advance (in. per min.) = Flow Rate (cu.in. per minute) ÷ Area (sq. in.)
= (8X 231) ÷ 28.27
= 65 in. per minute

Speed Retract (in. per min.) = (8 X231) ÷ 21.21

= 87 in. per minute
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
Tradition Circuit Speed
Adjustable Orifice controls the speed of the cylinder in both
directions only when its resistance causing pressure
upstream to equal the setting of the pump’s compensator

The adjustable orifice will control the speed of the cylinder

during both the cylinder “advance” and “retract” cycles

When the adjustable orifice reduces the flow into the

cylinder it is referred to as METERING-IN

When the adjustable orifice reduces the flow out of the

cylinder it is referred to as METERING-OUT

The adjustable orifice in this circuit would reduce the speed

of the cylinder in both directions

METERING–IN during cylinder Advance

METERING-OUT during cylinder Retract

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Control Speed Extend.. Free Flow
Retract
Two components required

Note: the “Envelope”

surrounding the two
components indicating
they one unit called a
Flow Control
 Flow Control Valve

Constructed of two hydraulic components contained in one housing

Adjustable orifice
Check Valve
used to control the speed of an actuator
Adjustable orifice used to restrict flow through the valve in one directions
(metering the speed)

Check Valve blocks flow in one direction while allowing free flow in
the opposite direction through the valve

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Adjustment Colour ring
Styles:

Colour Ring
Locking Set Screw
Numbers on thimble

5
Selector Switch
B
Lock with Key
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon
Free Flow
To control the speed of a
cylinder using a flow control
valve the fluid is metered in
one direction and must free
flow in the opposite direction

That’s the function of the

Check Valve housed in the
flow control valve

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Meter In

L
o
a
d

Meter In regulates the flow into the cylinder while allowing free flow out

Only used with opposing loads….load is constant

Note: the flow control ANSI symbol is drawn incorrectly if the

components are housed in a single housing….no Envelope

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

 Meter Out
Free Flow In
Metered flow Out

Meter Out Circuit control the flow out of a cylinder by becoming an added
resistance in the circuit

Meter Out circuit used when load can “runaway” do to changes in loads
or overhung loads

Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon

Meter Out Flow Paths
 Summary
Meter In and Out circuits can be very accurate but not very efficient

Bleed off circuit are efferent but not accurate

Meter Out circuit can control opposing and overhung loads

Bleed off and Meter in circuit can only control opposing loads

Choice of type and location of Metering principles are based on

system applications

Flow Control Valves consist of two hydraulic modules (adjustable orifice

and check valve) contained in a single housing

Flow Control Valve’s ANSI symbol includes a hydraulic Envelope

For very accurate speed control use a Temperature, Pressure Compensated Flow
Control Valve
Flow Control Valves: Paul Bligdon