Cartridge Valve Actuator (IL)
An actuator that maintains equilibrium between the valve pressure and the control pressure in the isothermal liquid network.
Description
The Cartridge Valve Actuator (IL) unit models an actuator that maintains a balance between valve pressure and control pressure. The valve between ports A and B remains closed until the Spring preload force guide spring pressure is exceeded, at which point the piston starts to move. The piston position is output as a scalar signal to port S. The 4 port cartridge valve actuator diagram is shown below.
Actuator force balance
The actuator piston moves to regulate the pressure in the actuator chamber, which maintains a balance between the actuator port pressure and the linear control pressure:
where:
-
and are the pressures at ports A and B;
-
- port area A;
-
- port area B, which is calculated as:
-
, if the parameter Number of pressure ports is set to
3
; -
if the Number of pressure ports is set to
4
;
-
-
- port area X, calculated from Port A poppet to port X pilot area ratio;
-
- port area Y;
-
- initial spring force in the system;
-
- is calculated from the Number of pressure ports:
-
, if Number of pressure ports is set to
3
; -
If the Number of pressure ports is set to
4
.
-
Piston position
The stable piston displacement is calculated as:
where
-
- is the value of the Connected valve opening orientation parameter, which specifies movement in the positive (extension) or negative (retraction) direction;
-
- spring stiffness constant, the value of the Spring stiffness parameter.
The dynamic change in piston position is:
where is the value of the Actuator time constant parameter.
If is less than the value of the Spring preload force parameter, then .
If is greater than the sum of the preload force and , then .
Opening dynamics
If opening dynamics are modelled, a delay is introduced in the flow response to the modelled control pressure. The pressure becomes the dynamic control pressure , otherwise is the steady-state pressure. The instantaneous change in dynamic control pressure is calculated from the Actuator time constant :
By default, the Actuator dynamics checkbox is unchecked.
Numerical smoothing of area and pressure values
When the actuator is almost fully extended or retracted, it is possible to maintain numerical stability in the simulation by adjusting the Smoothing factor parameter. The smoothing function is applied to all calculated forces, but primarily affects the modelling at the extremes of piston movement.
The normalised force is
where
-
- is the force at port A;
-
- port force B;
-
- is the value of Spring preload force;
-
- port force X.
If the Smoothing factor parameter is non-zero, the block smoothly changes the value of the normalised force between 0
and 1
.
Ports
Conserving
#
A
—
pressure port
isothermal liquid
Details
The pressure port associated with the valve inlet.
Program usage name |
|
#
B
—
pressure port
isothermal liquid
Details
Pressure port associated with the valve outlet.
Program usage name |
|
#
X
—
pressure port
isothermal liquid
Details
Pressure port at the end of a tubular valve.
Program usage name |
|
#
Y
—
pressure port
isothermal liquid
Details
Pressure port associated with the valve outlet.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of pressure ports to 4
.
Program usage name |
|
Output
#
S
—
position of the pipe valve, m
scalar
Details
The position of a tubular valve, expressed in m.
Data types |
|
Complex numbers support |
No |
Parameters
Parameters
#
Number of pressure ports —
number of control pressure ports
3
| 4
Details
Number of control pressure ports. Port X measures the pressure at the end of the tubular valve. If this parameter is set to 4
, an additional control port Y is used.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
No |
#
Port A poppet area —
cross-sectional area of the port A
m^2
| cm^2
| ft^2
| in^2
| km^2
| mi^2
| mm^2
| um^2
| yd^2
Details
Port cross-sectional area A.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Port A poppet to port X pilot area ratio — ratio of input port area to control port area
Details
The ratio of the input port area A, to the control port area X. This value is used to calculate the force on port X.
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Port Y pilot area —
cross-sectional area of the port Y
m^2
| cm^2
| ft^2
| in^2
| km^2
| mi^2
| mm^2
| um^2
| yd^2
Details
Port cross-sectional area Y.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Number of pressure ports to 4
.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Spring preload force —
initial spring force
N
| kN
| lb
| mN
| dyn
| lbf
Details
Spring force in the valve due to spring preload. This parameter is a threshold value which, when added to the control pressures at ports X and Y, balances the valve opening due to the pressures at ports A and B.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Spring stiffness —
stiffness constant
N/m
| lbf/ft
| lbf/in
Details
The stiffness constant of a spring.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Poppet stroke —
butterfly valve stroke
m
| cm
| ft
| in
| km
| mi
| mm
| um
| yd
Details
Maximum possible movement of the pipe valve.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Smoothing factor — numerical smoothing factor
Details
A continuous smoothing factor that provides a smooth change in piston position in the nearly extended and nearly retracted positions. Set a non-zero value less than one to increase the stability of the simulation.
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Connected valve opening orientation —
piston displacement direction
Positive displacement opens valve
| Negative displacement opens valve
Details
The direction of displacement of the tubular valve that opens the connected valve. If the parameter is set to `Positive displacement opens valve', the valve extends. If the parameter is set to `Negative displacement opens valve', the valve retracts.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
No |
# Actuator dynamics — whether to take into account transients during tripping
Details
Option to account for transient effects in the spool position during actuator operation. Checking the Actuator dynamics box approximates the actuator motion by introducing a first order delay in the spool position. The Actuator time constant value also affects the modelled dynamics.
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
No |
#
Actuator time constant —
piston displacement time constant
d
| s
| hr
| ms
| ns
| us
| min
Details
A constant that determines the time required for the piston to reach steady state when moving from one position to another. This parameter affects the modelled actuator dynamics.
Dependencies
To enable this parameter, select the Actuator dynamics checkbox.
Values |
|
Default value |
|
Program usage name |
|
Evaluatable |
Yes |