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Shuttle Valve

(To be removed) Hydraulic valve that allows flow in one direction only

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.

Library

Directional Valves

  • Shuttle Valve block

Description

The Shuttle Valve block represents a hydraulic shuttle valve as a data-sheet-based model. The valve has two inlet ports (A and A1) and one outlet port (B). The valve is controlled by pressure differential pc=pApA1. The valve permits flow either between ports A and B or between ports A1 and B, depending on the pressure differential pc. Initially, path A-B is assumed to be opened. To open path A1-B (and close A-B at the same time), pressure differential must be less than the valve cracking pressure (pcr <=0).

When cracking pressure is reached, the valve control member (spool, ball, poppet, etc.) is forced off its seat and moves to the opposite seat, thus opening one passage and closing the other. If the flow rate is high enough and pressure continues to change, the control member continues to move until it reaches its extreme position. At this moment, one of the valve passage areas is at its maximum. The valve maximum area and the cracking and maximum pressures are generally provided in the catalogs and are the three key parameters of the block.

The relationship between the A-B, A1–B path openings and control pressure pc is shown in the following illustration.

In addition to the maximum area, the leakage area is also required to characterize the valve. The main purpose of the parameter is not to account for possible leakage, even though this is also important, but to maintain numerical integrity of the circuit by preventing a portion of the system from getting isolated after the valve is completely closed. An isolated or “hanging” part of the system could affect computational efficiency and even cause failure of computation. Therefore, the parameter value must be greater than zero.

The flow rate through each of the orifices is determined according to the following equations:

qAB=CDAAB2ρpAB(pAB2+pcr2)1/4

qA1B=CDAA1B2ρpA1B(pA1B2+pcr2)1/4

AAB={Aleakfor pcpcrackAleak+k(pcpcrack)for pcrack<pc<pcrack+popAmaxfor pcpcrack+pop

AA1B={Aleakfor pcpcrack+popAmaxk(pcpcrack)for pcrack<pc<pcrack+popAmaxfor pcpcrack

k=AmaxAleakpop

pc=pApA1

where

qAB, qA1BFlow rates through the AB and A1B orifices
pAB, pA1BPressure differentials across the AB and A1B orifices
pA, pA1, pBGauge pressures at the block terminals
CDFlow discharge coefficient
ρFluid density
AAB, AA1BInstantaneous orifice AB and A1B passage areas
AmaxFully open orifice passage area
AleakClosed valve leakage area
pcValve control pressure differential
pcrackValve cracking pressure differential
popPressure differential needed to fully shift the valve
pcrAB, pcrA1BMinimum pressures for turbulent flow across the AB and A1B orifices

The minimum pressures for turbulent flow across the AB and A1B orifices, pcrAB and pcrA1B, are calculated according to the laminar transition specification method:

  • By pressure ratio — The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is defined by the following equations:

    pcrAB = (pavgAB + patm)(1 – Blam)

    pcrA1B = (pavgA1B + patm)(1 – Blam)

    pavgAB = (pA + pB)/2

    pavgA1B = (pA1 + pB)/2

    where

    pavgABAverage pressure for orifice AB
    pavgA1BAverage pressure for orifice A1B
    patmAtmospheric pressure, 101325 Pa
    BlamPressure ratio at the transition between laminar and turbulent regimes (Laminar flow pressure ratio parameter value)
  • By Reynolds number — The transition from laminar to turbulent regime is defined by the following equations:

    pcrAB=ρ2(RecrνCDDHAB)2

    pcrA1B=ρ2(RecrνCDDHA1B)2

    DHAB=4AABπ

    DHA1B=4AA1Bπ

    where

    DHAB, DHA1BInstantaneous orifice hydraulic diameters
    νFluid kinematic viscosity
    RecrCritical Reynolds number (Critical Reynolds number parameter value)

By default, the block does not include valve opening dynamics. Adding valve opening dynamics provides continuous behavior that is particularly helpful in situations with rapid valve opening and closing. The orifice passage areas AAB and AA1B in the equations above then become steady-state orifice AB and A1B passage areas, respectively. Instantaneous orifice AB and A1B passage areas with opening dynamics are determined as follows:

AAB_dyn(t=0)=AAB_init

dAAB_dyndt=AABAAB_dynτ

AA1B_dyn=Amax+AleakAAB_dyn

where

AAB_dynInstantaneous orifice AB passage area with opening dynamics
AA1B_dynInstantaneous orifice A1B passage area with opening dynamics
AAB_initInitial open area for orifice AB
τTime constant for the first order response of the valve opening
tTime

The block positive direction is from port A to port B and from port A1 to port B. Control pressure is determined as pc=pApA1.

Basic Assumptions and Limitations

  • Valve opening is linearly proportional to the pressure differential.

  • No loading on the valve, such as inertia, friction, spring, and so on, is considered.

Parameters

Maximum passage area

Valve passage maximum cross-sectional area. The default value is 1e-4 m^2.

Cracking pressure

Pressure differential level at which the orifice of the valve starts to open. The default value is -1e4 Pa.

Opening pressure

Pressure differential across the valve needed to shift the valve from one extreme position to another. The default value is 1e4 Pa.

Flow discharge coefficient

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.

Laminar transition specification

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 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 Critical Reynolds number parameter.

Laminar flow pressure ratio

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 Laminar transition specification parameter is set to Pressure ratio.

Critical Reynolds number

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, which corresponds to a round orifice in thin material with sharp edges. This parameter is visible only if the Laminar transition specification parameter is set to Reynolds number.

Leakage area

The total area of possible leaks in the completely closed 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 valve is completely closed. The parameter value must be greater than 0. The default value is 1e-12 m^2.

Opening dynamics

Select one of the following options:

  • Do not include valve opening dynamics — The valve sets its orifice passage area directly as a function of pressure. If the area changes instantaneously, so does the flow equation. This is the default.

  • Include valve opening dynamics — Provide continuous behavior that is more physically realistic, by adding a first-order lag during valve opening and closing. Use this option in hydraulic simulations with the local solver for real-time simulation. This option is also helpful if you are interested in valve opening dynamics in variable step simulations.

Opening time constant

The time constant for the first order response of the valve opening. This parameter is available only if Opening dynamics is set to Include valve opening dynamics. The default value is 0.1 s.

Initial area at port A

The initial open area for orifice AB. This parameter is available only if Opening dynamics is set to Include valve opening dynamics. The default value is 1e-4 m^2.

 Restricted Parameters

Global Parameters

Parameters determined by the type of working fluid:

  • Fluid density

  • Fluid kinematic viscosity

Use the Hydraulic Fluid block or the Custom Hydraulic Fluid block to specify the fluid properties.

Ports

The block has the following ports:

A

Hydraulic conserving port associated with the valve inlet.

A1

Hydraulic conserving port associated with the valve inlet.

B

Hydraulic conserving port associated with the valve outlet.

Extended Capabilities

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

Version History

Introduced in R2006b

collapse all

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.