M-Way N-Position Directional Valve (IL)
M-linear N-position distributor in an isothermal liquid network.
Description
The M-Way N-Position Directional Valve (IL) unit is a directional spool valve with any configuration of working lines, spool positions and channels. The unit can have up to ten operating lines, up to ten spool positions and up to twenty channels. Valves with a large number of configurations are most common in the construction, agricultural and automotive industries. It is possible to set identical passage characteristics for all channels, or to set them individually for each channel. The channel characteristic can be set as a linear or tabular dependence on the spool position, or as a tabular dependence of the volume flow rate on the pressure drop when the channel is fully open. The scalar signal on the S port sets the spool position. Detailed information on how to calculate the flow rate through a variable cross-sectional area can be found on the unit’s reference page at Orifice (IL).
Parametrization of the distributor channels
If Area parameterization is set to Different for each flow path, the parameters specified in Orifice 1,…,20 are set for each channel. For example, if Number of orifices is set to 3, the parameter sections Orifice 1, Orifice 2 and Orifice 3 are displayed for the first, second and third channels respectively. Each section has the same parameter names followed by that channel number.
The S signal for each channel sets the relative position of the spool valve according to this table:
| Area characteristics | ||
|---|---|---|
*Orifice parameterization |
|
|
|
orifice.S = 0 m when the channel is fully open. orifice.S , when the channel is fully closed, where is the value of the parameter Inter-position spool travel fraction for which orifices transition between open-closed. |
orifice.S = 0 m when the channel is fully open. orifice.S , when the channel is fully closed, where is the value of the parameter Spool travelling fraction for which orifice transitions between open-closed. |
|
No parameterization |
orifice.S = 0 m when the channel is fully open. In all other positions, the orifice.S value is the first or last element of the extended version of the parameter Vector of spool travel relative to discrete spool position for Orifice when the channel is fully closed. If the parameter Vector of spool travel relative to discrete spool position for Orifice does not contain positive or negative values, the extended version of the vector additionally contains spool position values symmetric to 0. The leakage area for the channel corresponds to the first and last elements of the extended vector. The channel can have different values of leakage area if the parameter Vector of spool travel relative to discrete spool position for Orifice has both negative and positive area. |
| Only the parameters for channel 1 are given in Orifice 1. The parameters for the other channels are identical to those for channel 1, except for the number in their names and the cases mentioned in the description of parameters for channel 1. |
Assumptions and limitations
-
Each channel is assumed to have a symmetrical characteristic on both sides of a single distributor position if the Area characteristics parameter is set to
Different for each flow path. -
Each channel is assumed to have a symmetrical characteristic on both sides of a single distributor position, scaled proportionally by the distance between neighbouring elements of the Spool travel at each spool position index parameter, if `Identical for all flow paths' is set for Area characteristics.
Ports
Input
#
S
—
distributor spool position
scalar
Details
Position of the distributor spool valve in m.
| Data types |
|
| Complex numbers support |
No |
Conserving
#
1
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
| Program usage name |
|
#
2
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 2.
| Program usage name |
|
#
3
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 3.
| Program usage name |
|
#
4
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 4.
| Program usage name |
|
#
5
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 5.
| Program usage name |
|
#
6
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 6.
| Program usage name |
|
#
7
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 7.
| Program usage name |
|
#
8
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 8.
| Program usage name |
|
#
9
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 9.
| Program usage name |
|
#
10
—
isothermal liquid port
isothermal liquid
Details
Working line.
Dependencies
To use this port, set Number of ports to ≥ 10.
| Program usage name |
|
Parameters
Valve Configuration
#
Number of ports —
number of distributor ports
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Details
Number of ports . Maximum number of ports — 10.
| Values |
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| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
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| Evaluatable |
No |
#
Number of spool positions —
number of spool valve positions
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Details
Number of spool positions . Maximum number — 10.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
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| Evaluatable |
No |
#
Spool travel at each spool position index —
vector of spool positions corresponding to its positions
m | cm | ft | in | km | mi | mm | um | yd
Details
Values of the spool valve positions. Each element corresponds to a different spool position. The number of elements of this vector is equal to the value of the parameter Number of spool positions, . The value 0 corresponds to the neutral spool position.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
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| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Number of orifices —
number of channels
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20
Details
Number of channels. Maximum number — 20.
| Values |
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| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
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| Evaluatable |
No |
#
Area characteristics —
channel characterisation method
Identical for all flow paths | Different for each flow path
Details
Sets identical or individual flow characteristics for the channel cross-section:
-
Identical for all flow paths- identical characteristics for all flow paths of the distributor. -
Different for each flow path- individual characteristics are set for the channels.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
No |
#
Orifice parameterization —
channel area calculation method
Linear - Area vs. spool travel | Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel)
Details
A method for calculating the area of a channel cross-sectional area in modelling.
At tabular parameterization it is possible to set a non-linear profile of the flow characteristic of the channels as a dependence of the volume flow rate on the pressure drop.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to `Identical for all flow paths'.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
No |
#
Orifice parameterization —
channel area calculation method
Linear - Area vs. spool travel | Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel | Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel)
Details
A method for calculating the area of a channel cross-sectional area in modelling.
At tabular parameterization it is possible to specify a non-linear profile of the flow characteristic of the channels as a dependence of the flow area on the spool position or as a dependence of the volume flow rate on the pressure drop.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to `Different for each flow path'.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
No |
# Inter-position spool travel fraction for which orifices remain fully open — share of the spool stroke between positions where the channel remains fully open
Details
Fraction of the distance between neighbouring spool positions where each channel has the maximum cross-sectional area.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to `Identical for all flow paths'.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Inter-position spool travel fraction for which orifices transition between open-closed — share of the spool stroke between positions where the channel changes from open to closed state
Details
Fraction of the distance between neighbouring spool positions where the value of the flow area goes from the maximum value to the leakage area.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to `Identical for all flow paths'.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Maximum orifice area —
maximum cross-sectional area of the channel
m^2 | cm^2 | ft^2 | in^2 | km^2 | mi^2 | mm^2 | um^2 | yd^2
Details
Maximum cross-sectional area of the channel.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to `Identical for all flow paths' and the Orifice parameterization parameter to `Linear - Area vs. spool travel'.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Leakage area fraction — relative leakage area
Details
Leakage area as a fraction of the Maximum orifice area.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to `Linear - area vs. spool travel'.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Cross-sectional area at ports —
cross-sectional area for all ports
m^2 | cm^2 | ft^2 | in^2 | km^2 | mi^2 | mm^2 | um^2 | yd^2
Details
Cross-sectional area of channels for all ports.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to `Linear - area vs. spool travel' or set Area characteristics to `Different for each path' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - area vs. spool travel'.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Discharge coefficient — flow coefficient
Details
The correction factor is the ratio of the actual mass flow rate to the theoretical mass flow rate through the distributor.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to `Linear - area vs. spool travel' or set Area characteristics to `Different for each path' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - area vs. spool travel'.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Critical Reynolds number — upper limit of Reynolds number for laminar flow
Details
Upper Reynolds number limit for laminar flow through a channel.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to `Linear - area vs. spool travel' or set Area characteristics to `Different for each path' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - area vs. spool travel'.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Smoothing factor — numerical smoothing factor
Details
A continuous smoothing factor that ensures smooth opening by correcting the channel characteristic in the nearly open and nearly closed positions.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Orifice parameterization parameter to Linear - area vs. spool travel.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Pressure recovery — whether to take into account the increase in pressure when expanding the area
Details
Whether to take into account the pressure increase when the fluid flows from a region with a smaller cross-sectional area to a region with a larger cross-sectional area.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to `Linear - area vs. spool travel' or set Area characteristics to `Different for each path' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - area vs. spool travel'.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
No |
#
Pressure drop vector —
vector of differential pressure values
Pa | GPa | MPa | atm | bar | kPa | ksi | psi | uPa | kbar
Details
Vector of differential pressure values for tabular volumetric flow rate parameterization. The dimension corresponds to the dimension of the Fully open volumetric flow rate vector.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Fully open volumetric flow rate vector —
vector of volume flow rates
m^3/s | m^3/h | cm^3/s | mm^3/s | ft^3/s | lpm | l/s | gpm | gal/s | gal/h
Details
Volumetric flow rate for a fully open channel at a given pressure drop. The size of the vector corresponds to the size of the Pressure drop vector.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Leakage flow rate fraction — relative leakage volume flow rate
Details
Leakage area as a fraction of the Fully open volumetric flow rate vector values.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Orifice parameterization parameter to Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
Orifice 1
# Ports connected by orifice 1 — ports connected by channel 1
Details
Two fluid ports connected by channel 1. The first element is a distributor port connected to port A of channel 1. The second element is a distributor port connected to port B of channel 1. On the block icon for ports connected to the same channel, the arrow points to the port that is the second element of this parameter. By default, the values for the other channels are as follows:
-
Channel 2:
[4, 5]. -
Channel 3:
[2, 1]. -
Channel 4:
[3, 4]. -
Channel 5 - Channel 20:
[1, 2]
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
# Spool position indices where orifice 1 is open — spool positions in which channel 1 is open
Details
Spool positions in which channel 1 is open. This vector must be strictly monotonically increasing and have values between 1 and the Number of spool positions parameter value. By default values for other channels are as follows:
-
Channel 2:
[1, 4]. -
Channel 3:
[3, 4]. -
Channel 4:
[3, 4]. -
Channel 5 - Channel 20:
[1]
If the parameter Spool position indices where orifice 1 is open contains consecutive integers, it means that the channel is open in several neighbouring spool positions. The block behaviour in this case depends on the value of the Orifice parameterization parameter:
-
If the Orifice parameterization is set to
Linear - Area vs. spool travelorTabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel), the block stores the value of the Maximum orifice area or Fully open volumetric flow rate vector in several neighbouring discrete spool positions where the channel is open. -
If the Orifice parameterization is set to
Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel, then the element of the parameter Vector of spool travel relative to discrete spool position for orifice 1 equal to0is the smallest of the adjacent positions.
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Spool travel for which orifice 1 remains fully open —
free spool stroke at fully open channel
m | cm | ft | in | km | mi | mm | um | yd
Details
The total movement to either side of the discrete spool position at which the cross-sectional area remains at its maximum. The centre of this segment corresponds to the discrete spool position.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path' and Orifice parameterization to `Linear - Area vs. spool travel' or `Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Spool travel for which orifice 1 transitions between open-closed —
spool stroke between open and closed channel states
m | cm | ft | in | km | mi | mm | um | yd
Details
Spool stroke between open and closed channel states.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path' and Orifice parameterization to `Linear - Area vs. spool travel' or `Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Maximum area of orifice 1 —
maximum cross-sectional area of the channel
m^2 | cm^2 | ft^2 | in^2 | km^2 | mi^2 | mm^2 | um^2 | yd^2
Details
Maximum cross-sectional area of the channel.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to Different for each flow path and the Orifice parameterization parameter to Linear - Area vs. spool travel.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Vector of spool travel relative to discrete spool position for orifice 1 —
vector of spool position values
m | cm | ft | in | km | mi | mm | um | yd
Details
Vector of spool position values. The size of the vector corresponds to the size of Area vector for orifice 1. The vector must contain an element equal to 0 and be strictly monotonically increasing. The element with the value 0 indicates when the spool is in the corresponding position. If the parameter Spool position indices where orifice 1 is open contains several adjacent intermediate positions of the spool, the element equal to 0 corresponds to the smallest position number.
The vector can contain negative and positive elements. If the parameter contains only negative elements or only positive elements, the channel characteristic will be symmetrical with respect to the discrete spool position.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to Different for each flow path and the Orifice parameterization parameter to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Area vector for orifice 1 —
vector of values of the channel cross-sectional area
m^2 | cm^2 | ft^2 | in^2 | km^2 | mi^2 | mm^2 | um^2 | yd^2
Details
Vector of spool cross-sectional area values. The vector of spool travel area values corresponds to the vector Vector of spool travel relative to discrete spool position for orifice 1. If the channel is open in the first or last spool position, the channel remains fully open with the maximum cross-sectional area when the spool moves beyond the first or last spool position.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to `Different for each flow path' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel'.
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Pressure drop vector of orifice 1 —
vector of differential pressure values
Pa | GPa | MPa | atm | bar | kPa | ksi | psi | uPa | kbar
Details
Vector of differential pressure values for tabular volumetric flow rate parameterization. The differential pressure vector corresponds to the Fully open volumetric flow rate vector of orifice 1.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set the Area characteristics parameter to Different for each flow path' and the Orifice parameterization parameter to `Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |
#
Fully open volumetric flow rate vector of orifice 1 —
vector of volume flow rates
m^3/s | m^3/h | cm^3/s | mm^3/s | ft^3/s | lpm | l/s | gpm | gal/s | gal/h
Details
Volumetric flow rate for a fully open channel at a given pressure drop. The volume flow vector corresponds to the Pressure drop vector of orifice 1.
Dependencies
To use this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths' and Orifice parameterization to `Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. pressure drop (linear with spool travel).
| Values |
|
| Default value |
|
| Program usage name |
|
| Evaluatable |
Yes |