Flow control valves serve multiple purposes in the engineering, manufacturing and scientific industries. The main purpose of using a valve is to control the flow of the fluid passing through a system. Mostly they are used to start, pause and throttle the flow to guarantee a safe and precise process to take place. They come in different types and shapes but the most effective, dependable and cost effective control valves are Proportional Flow Control Valves. Keep reading to have more information about the flow control valves, their uses and benefits.
What is a Proportional Solenoid Valve?
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This type of valve uses a restrictor to control the fluid flow efficiently. In most of the applications the flow rate of the fluid affects the processing of the systems such as pressure, level, temperature, thickness, density, color and viscosity etc. This valve has a solenoid actuator that is utilized for the up and down valve positioning.
A typical solenoid flow control valve is a two way valve and you can open or close it as per your need. This type of valve provides greater control over the position of the plunger or spool. There are many ranges of positions to meet the need of all the types of the flow control applications.
To increase or decrease the flow rate the proportional solenoid valve changes the position of the plunger. Basically, a magnetic field controls the position of the plunger that is generated by the input signal it receives from the operator. Meanwhile you can use it in various places to fulfill your needs.
Uses:
Proportional flow control valves allow you to remotely activate the flow of the fluid, air or gas. A most common use of these valves is to control the flow of the fluids in engines, and hydraulic operated machinery. Their main functionality is to control the flow rate of the power, fluids and compressed air in the large applications such as wood working, material handling, metal working and food processing.
There are three main factors such as frequency response, linearity and the hysteresis that defines how precisely a valve can control the flow rate in a system.
Valves in Irrigation:
A proportional control water flow valve in irrigation controls the water flow and operates the sprinkling systems automatically. You can tell the valve how much it has to be open for the flow of the water. After that it works automatically if the upstream pressure goes higher than the downstream pressure.
Coolant Systems:
Flow control valves are also used in the coolant systems to maintain the flow of the antifreeze and cleaning solutions. Machines that work 24/7 require a coolant system to maintain the temperature for avoiding the risk of overheating. When installed a control valve then you don’t have to be worried because it will maintain a flow ratio according to a set value.
Braking Systems:
A proportional flow control valve used in the pressure brakes allows you to limit the pressure that reaches the rear brake. The brakes of the vehicle require less pressure than the front brakes. The precise control of the pressure lets the vehicle stop safely and smoothly. The types of bale proportional valves vary and are custom designed to fit the brake system.
Applications in Medicine:
Flow control valves are widely used in the preparation of various medicines. A control amount of dose is added in each medicine which can not be achieved without controlling the flow of doses. A value is used to control the release of liquids and the dosage of the medicines. Every medicine contains a controlled amount of various dosages.
Hydraulic Equipment:
Hydraulic equipment are used in different fields of life such as in manufacturing industries, lifting the weight and in metallic presses. An electric hydraulic flow control valve controls the flow of the oil fluid. It is basically used where you need greater power to move the spool. Hydraulic equipment is used in the places where you have to perform the work that requires a high force. In a hydraulic system, valves are the part of a closed loop system that requires precision and appropriate control.
Furnace:
A controlled amount of gas supply is necessary to avoid overheating and any kind of potential damage. Don’t worry it’s not a big deal. You can precisely control the flow rate of gas in a furnace with the help of a proportional gas flow control valve. It regulates the gas supply and maintains an accurate temperature inside the furnace. A change in the temperature causes the generation of a signal that indicates the desired temperature is achieved. At that time the flow control valve shuts off the supply of the gas.
Ventilation Machine:
A ventilation machine is used to send and receive repository air for the lungs. They are used when a patient is suffering from a breathing disorder. It is necessary to transfer the air to the patient at a precise pressure, flow and having accurate oxygen ratio. Now in this situation a precise flow is important for the patient. Using proportional solenoid valve flow control allows the machine to provide controlled air to the patient.
Leak Detection:
The detection of leakage is a worldwide necessity. Leakage of water, gas, and chemicals can cause hazardous damages. With the help of a proportional flow control valve you can apply a pressure to test the leakage and can find which parts are leaking and which should be replaced timely. This test is very important for the mechanical manufacturer to test the leakages of the old machines and the equipment they are using in the manufacturing process.
Final Thoughts:
A proportional flow control valve allows you to control the quantity of fluid that passes through a system. We have provided a brief discussion of flow control valves used in the fluid circuits. Different control valves are available in the market. Choosing the right one requires you to check out the purpose of use, environment and the place where you have to use it.
