Research Information System
JOURNAL OF THE BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING, no.3, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Directional control valves are crucial components in hydraulic systems, regulating fluid flow to actuators in various applications such as mobile equipment, industrial machinery, and construction equipment. However, pressure losses within these valves, particularly in the P-T line, can significantly impact system efficiency. This study investigates pressure losses in a 4/3-way monoblock directional control valve through a combination of experimental and numerical methods. Pressure loss sources, including flow separation, vortices, and sharp turns, were analysed numerically for spool jet angles of 90 degrees, 75 degrees, 60 degrees, and 45 degrees. Experiments were conducted with a 90 degrees spool jet angle at mass flow rates ranging from 30 to 60 lpm. Optimizing the spool jet angle and cavity geometry reduces pressure losses in the P-T line by up to 30%. The highest pressure drop occurs at a 90 degrees jet angle. Reducing the angle to 60 degrees results in the most significant pressure drop. However, further decreasing the angle beyond 60 degrees yields diminishing returns in pressure loss reduction. This research provides valuable insights into minimizing pressure losses in hydraulic directional control valves, leading to improved system efficiency and overall performance.