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Counterbalance Valve

(To be removed) Hydraulic counterbalance valve

The Hydraulics (Isothermal) library will be removed in a future release. Use the Isothermal Liquid library instead. (since R2020a)

For more information on updating your models, see Upgrading Hydraulic Models to Use Isothermal Liquid Blocks.

  • Counterbalance Valve block

Libraries:
Simscape / Fluids / Hydraulics (Isothermal) / Valves / Flow Control Valves

Description

Counterbalance valves are used in hydraulic systems working with an overriding (run-away) or suspended load. They are designed to create backpressure at the return line of the actuator to prevent losing control over the load. The following illustration shows a counterbalance valve schematic.

If a directional valve (not shown in the picture) is shifted into position that lowers the load, then the fluid from the rod chamber of the cylinder can exit only if pressure at port P (pilot pressure) and port L (load pressure) create enough force to overcome the spring force and open the valve. In statics, the valve is described with the equation

F0+cx=ppilotApilot+ploadAloadpbackAback(1)

where

F0Spring setting
cSpring rate
xValve opening
ppilotPilot pressure (pressure at port P)
ploadLoad pressure (pressure at port L)
pbackBackpressure (pressure at return port B)
ApilotValve effective area at pilot port P
AloadValve effective area at load port L
AbackValve effective area at return port B

Counterbalance valve, classified by type, is an internally-externally piloted valve because both the pilot pressure and the load pressure tend to open the valve. After minor rearrangements, Equation 1 takes the form

pset+cpx=ppilotkpilot+ploadpbackkback(2)

pset=F0/Aloadcp=c/Aloadkpilot=Apilot/Aloadkback=Aback/Aload

where

psetValve pressure setting
cpSpring pressure stiffness (Pa/m)
xValve opening
kpilotPilot ratio
kbackBackpressure ratio

The valve displacement is determined from Equation 2:

x=ppilotkpilot+ploadpbackkbackpsetcp(3)

0xxmax

where xmax is the maximum valve displacement.

The Counterbalance Valve block can be represented as the following structural model.

The pressure sensors measure pressure at respective ports and convey their values to the Fcn block, which, together with the PS Saturation block, performs calculations in accordance with Equation 3. The valve displacement is passed through the first order lag block, built of the PS Subtract, PS Gain, and PS Integrator blocks, to account for valve dynamics. The gain of the PS Gain block is set to 1/T, where T is the time constant. The Variable Orifice and Check Valve blocks simulate the counterbalance valve orifice and check valve. In the actual Counterbalance Valve block model, the operations performed by the sensors and the Fcn block are executed in the block equation section.

The Counterbalance Valve block is essentially a data-sheet-based model. Depending on data listed in the manufacturer's catalogs or data sheets for your particular valve, you can choose one of the following model parameterization options:

  • By maximum area and opening — Use this option if the data sheet provides only the orifice maximum area and the control member maximum stroke.

  • By area vs. opening table — Use this option if the catalog or data sheet provides a table of the orifice passage area based on the control member displacement.

In the latter case, the PS Saturation block in the structural model is replaced with the PS Lookup Table (1D) block, and you can choose from three interpolation and two extrapolation methods.

Connections L and B are hydraulic conserving ports associated with the load and backpressure ports of the valve. The hydraulic conserving port P is associated with the pilot port. The block positive direction is from port L to port B. Positive pressure at port P opens the valve.

Assumptions and Limitations

  • Valve dynamics are approximated by introducing the first order lag between the pressure sensors and the variable orifice control member displacement.

  • Inertia, friction, or hydraulic forces acting on the valve control member are not taken into account.

Ports

Conserving

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Hydraulic conserving port associated with the valve pilot port.

Hydraulic conserving port associated with the valve load port.

Hydraulic conserving port associated with the valve backpressure port.

Parameters

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Basic parameters

The parameter specifies the pressure at port L necessary to start opening the valve. The setting is controlled with the valve spring.

The valve spring pressure stiffness cp.

The ratio between the effective areas of the control member face in the pilot chamber and in the load chamber. This is one of the fundamental valve characteristics in a catalog or data sheet. The default value is 3.

The ratio between the effective area of the control member, onto which the backpressure acts, and the load chamber valve area. There is a wide variety of counterbalance valves with compensated or partially-compensated backpressure. The parameter can take zero value if the valve is completely compensated.

The valve dynamics are approximated with the first order lag. This parameter is the time constant of the lag.

The total area of possible leaks in the completely closed orifice and check valve. The main purpose of the parameter is to maintain numerical integrity of the circuit by preventing a portion of the system from getting isolated after the orifice or check valve is completely closed. The parameter value must be greater than 0.

Variable orifice

Select one of the following methods for specifying the orifice:

  • By maximum area and opening — Provide values for the maximum orifice area and the maximum orifice opening. The passage area is linearly dependent on the control member displacement, that is, the orifice is closed at the initial position of the control member (zero displacement), and the maximum opening takes place at the maximum displacement.

  • By area vs. opening table — Provide tabulated data of orifice openings and corresponding orifice areas. The passage area is determined by one-dimensional table lookup. You have a choice of two interpolation methods and two extrapolation methods.

Specify the area of a fully opened orifice. The parameter value must be greater than zero. This parameter is used if Variable orifice parameterization is set to By maximum area and opening.

Specify the maximum displacement of the control member. The parameter value must be greater than zero. This parameter is used if Variable orifice parameterization is set to By maximum area and opening.

Specify the vector of input values for orifice openings as a one-dimensional array. The input values vector must be strictly increasing. The values can be nonuniformly spaced. The minimum number of values depends on the interpolation method: you must provide at least two values for linear interpolation, at least three values for smooth interpolation. The default values, in meters, are [-2e-3,0,5e-3,15e-3]. This parameter is used if Variable orifice parameterization is set to By area vs. opening table. Tabulated orifice openings values will be used together with Tabulated orifice area values for one-dimensional table lookup.

Specify the vector of orifice areas as a one-dimensional array. The vector must be of the same size as the orifice openings vector. All the values must be positive. The default values, in m^2, are [1e-12,4e-12,1.e-5,1.02e-5]. This parameter is used if Variable orifice parameterization is set to By area vs. opening table.

This parameter is used if Variable orifice parameterization is set to By area vs. opening table. Select one of the following interpolation methods for approximating the output value when the input value is between two consecutive grid points:

  • Linear — Select this option to get the best performance.

  • Smooth — Select this option to produce a continuous curve with continuous first-order derivatives.

For more information on interpolation algorithms, see the PS Lookup Table (1D) block reference page.

This parameter is used if Variable orifice parameterization is set to By area vs. opening table. Select one of the following extrapolation methods for determining the output value when the input value is outside the range specified in the argument list:

  • Linear — Select this option to produce a curve with continuous first-order derivatives in the extrapolation region and at the boundary with the interpolation region.

  • Nearest — Select this option to produce an extrapolation that does not go above the highest point in the data or below the lowest point in the data.

For more information on extrapolation algorithms, see the PS Lookup Table (1D) block reference page.

Semi-empirical parameter for orifice capacity characterization. Its value depends on the geometrical properties of the orifice, and usually is provided in textbooks or manufacturer data sheets.

Select how the block transitions between the laminar and turbulent regimes:

  • Pressure ratio — The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is smooth and depends on the value of the Orifice laminar flow pressure ratio parameter. This method provides better simulation robustness.

  • Reynolds number — The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is assumed to take place when the Reynolds number reaches the value specified by the Orifice critical Reynolds number parameter.

Pressure ratio at which the flow transitions between laminar and turbulent regimes. The default value is 0.999. This parameter is visible only if the Orifice laminar transition specification parameter is set to Pressure ratio.

The maximum Reynolds number for laminar flow. The value of the parameter depends on the orifice geometrical profile. You can find recommendations on the parameter value in hydraulics textbooks. The default value is 12. This parameter is visible only if the Orifice laminar transition specification parameter is set to Reynolds number.

Check valve

Valve passage maximum cross-sectional area.

Pressure level at which the orifice of the valve starts to open.

Pressure differential across the valve needed to fully open the valve. Its value must be higher than the cracking pressure. The default value is 1.2e5 Pa.

Semi-empirical parameter for valve capacity characterization. Its value depends on the geometrical properties of the orifice, and usually is provided in textbooks or manufacturer data sheets. The default value is 0.7.

Select how the block transitions between the laminar and turbulent regimes:

  • Pressure ratio — The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is smooth and depends on the value of the Check valve laminar flow pressure ratio parameter. This method provides better simulation robustness.

  • Reynolds number — The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is assumed to take place when the Reynolds number reaches the value specified by the Check valve critical Reynolds number parameter.

Pressure ratio at which the flow transitions between laminar and turbulent regimes. This parameter is visible only if the Check valve laminar transition specification parameter is set to Pressure ratio.

The maximum Reynolds number for laminar flow. The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is assumed to take place when the Reynolds number reaches this value. The value of the parameter depends on the orifice geometrical profile. You can find recommendations on the parameter value in hydraulics textbooks. The default value is 12. This parameter is visible only if the Check valve laminar transition specification parameter is set to Reynolds number.

Extended Capabilities

C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using Simulink® Coder™.

Version History

Introduced in R2012b

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R2023a: To be removed

The Hydraulics (Isothermal) library will be removed in a future release. Use the Isothermal Liquid library instead.

For more information on updating your models, see Upgrading Hydraulic Models to Use Isothermal Liquid Blocks.