Model-Based Driving Analysis for A novel Stepped Rotary Flow Control Valve

This paper investigates the driving techniques for a novel stepped rotary flow control valve which has been developed for a hydraulic Independent Metering (IM) control system. This valve has promising features such as observed controllability and stability. Its main structure is composed of a stepper motor coupled directly to a rotary orifice. The rotation of the stepper motor changes the orifice opening area and therefore the rate of the fluid flow. Two main techniques have been used to drive the stepper motor which are the full step and the micro-step rotary movements of the stepper motor and with it the rotary control orifice. Investigation of the relationship between these driving techniques and the dynamic performance of the valve is necessary to develop a control algorithm for this new IM configuration. This investigation is based on the mathematical model of the valve, and indicates that the driving signals have a different effect on the dynamical performance of the valve. For example, the rest points using the full step technique affects the friction torque produced by the rotary orifice