CFD Simulation of a Post-Compensated Load Sensing Directional Control Valve

The paper presents the CFD model of a load sensing directional control valve. The model was validated experimentally in terms of pressure drop and flow force at different positions of the spool. The spool position was imposed manually by means of a micrometric screw and a load cell was used for measuring the flow force. The CFD model was developed with the CAD-embedded tool FloEFD®. The model has been proved to be very reliable in estimating the pressure drop, moreover quite good results were obtained also in the evaluation of the flow force. The CFD simulations were used to tune the coefficients of a lumped parameter model of the valve, so that such a model can be efficiently used for the simulation of an entire hydraulic circuit. Moreover, the CFD model has been used as design tool for attenuating the detrimental effect of the flow force. In particular, the width of the land upstream of the metering edge has an influence on the resultant force on the spool. If was found that it is possible to significantly reduce the flow force at maximum opening with a relatively small increment of the pressure drop across the valve