Five Reasons to Use Proportional Valves for Precise Flow Control
In pneumatic applications where the output may vary, a proportional valve can be a great solution because proportional valves are designed to change the output pressure or flow to match that of the input to provide a consistent output performance. With a fast, precise response to changes, air proportional valves quickly achieve a stable flow for repeatable control and greater efficiency in a variety of applications, including factory and process automation, medical devices and instrumentation.
This blog aims to discuss the operation, benefits and applications of proportional valves and highlight the advantages of using proportional valves from a trusted source – Humphrey Products Company.
What is a Proportional Valve?
Proportional valves are normally closed, direct-acting solenoid valves engineered to provide a precise response to the amount of input current applied to the solenoid, delivering consistent output flow performance.
Used for the control of fluid flow rate or pressure, proportional valves work by adjusting the opening size within the valve. In operation, the spool opens or closes the valve position. Because they can be partially open – not just opened or closed – they can supply proportional control.
These valves are usually coupled with flow or pressure sensors to support precise flow rates or pressure settings and are closed-loop systems that rely on electronics to adjust the valve to meet the exact requirements in static and dynamic applications.
In operation, proportional valves receive input current signals and, in response, the electromagnetic field of the valve’s internal coil precisely moves the valve armature. This allows the valve to adjust the output flow to match the input, making them well suited to applications where the output pressure varies in steps or continuously and a fast, consistent response is required.
5 Reasons to Use Proportional Valves
Because of their ability to quickly adjust to variable flows, proportional valves are ideal in applications including:
- Factory automation
- Pharmaceutical processing equipment
- Food and beverage processing and packaging equipment
- Tensioning, spraying, and blow molding equipment
- Analytical and test instrumentation
As a matter of fact, air proportional valves offer a host of benefits in these and other applications, including these five advantages:
- Variable flow control: With the ability to precisely regulate flow, proportional valves provide flexibility in managing media flow in variable systems.
- Proportional response: Because they respond quickly and precisely to changes in the input signal, proportional valves provide accurate flow adjustments to meet exacting specifications and requirements of demanding processes.
- Diverse application: Air proportional valves are compatible with range of media, flow rates, inlet pressures and temperatures so they can be used to provide flow control in a wide variety of applications.
- Reliable performance: Capable of maintaining precise performance from zero flow to max flow over millions of cycles, proportional valves ensure reliability and stability during operation over their lifetime.
- Low hysteresis: Due to their design, proportional valves reduce lag time between signal input and reaching the desired flow rate.
Humphrey Valves for Pneumatic Applications
While proportional valves are suitable for use in pneumatic applications that demand variable or controlled valve output flow, proportional valves from Humphrey Products’ ProControl line offer additional benefits, such as soft starts, precision stops and reduced shock during pneumatic system operation. In closed-loop systems, Humphrey valves will deliver precise flow control and instantaneous response, even with minute adjustments from input sensors.
Humphrey Products’ ProControl valves are tailored to customer requirements and feature very high flow from a low supply pressure source and can deliver extremely precise and linear output flow with low hysteresis and high-resolution. The company offers three standard valve models and modifications to standard valves are possible.
To learn more about how a proportional valve can be used to effectively and efficiently enhance your pneumatic application or how a proportional valve from Humphrey Products Company can optimize valve performance in a specific application, please contact JHFOSTER, a Tavoron company, a reputable supplier of Humphrey Products’ proportional valves.
