Abstract
For the proportional directional valve controlled by two proportional solenoids, the normal control method (NCM) energizes only one solenoid at a time. The performance of the valve is greatly influenced by the nonlinearity of the proportional solenoid, such as dead zone and low force gain with a small current, and this effect cannot be eliminated by a simple dead-zone current compensation. To avoid this disadvantage, we propose the differential control method (DCM). By employing DCM, the controller outputs differential signals to simultaneously energize both solenoids of the proportional valve, and the operating point is found by analyzing the force output of the two solenoids to make a minimum variation of the current force gain. The comparisons of the valve response characteristics are made between NCM and DCM by nonlinear dynamic simulation and experiments. Simulation and experimental results show that by using DCM, the frequency response of the valve is greatly enhanced, especially when the input is small, which means that the dynamic characteristics of the proportional valve are improved.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amirante, R., Del Vescovo, G., Lippolis, A., 2006. Flow forces analysis of an open center hydraulic directional control valve sliding spool. Energ. Conv. Manag., 47(1): 114–131. [doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2005.03.010]
Amirante, R., Innone, A., Catalano, L.A., 2008. Boosted PWM open loop control of hydraulic proportional valves. Energ. Conv. Manag., 49(8):2225–2236. [doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2008.02.001]
Amirante, R., Catalano, L.A., Poloni, C., et al., 2014. Fluiddynamic design optimization of hydraulic proportional directional valves. Eng. Optim., 46(10):1295–1314. [doi:10.1080/0305215X.2013.836638]
Bu, F., Yao, B., 2000. Performance improvement of proportional directional control valves: methods and experiments. Proc. ASME Dynamic Systems and Control Division, p.297–304.
Del Vescovo, G., Lippolis, A., 2003. Three-dimensional analysis of flow forces on directional control valves. Int. J. Fluid Power, 4(2):15–24. [doi:10.1080/14399776.2003.10781162]
Devarajan, D., Stanton, S., Knorr, B., 2003. Multi-domain modeling and simulation of a linear actuation system. Proc. Int. Workshop on Behavioral Modeling and Simulation, p.76–81. [doi:10.1109/BMAS.2003.1249861]
Elmer, K.F., Gentle, C.R., 2001. A parsimonious model for the proportional control valve. Proc. Inst. Mech. Eng. C J. Mech. Eng. Sci., 215(11):1357–1363. [doi:10.1243/0954406011524739]
Gamble, J.B., Vaughan, N.D., 1996. Comparison of sliding mode control with state feedback and PID control applied to a proportional solenoid valve. J. Dynam. Syst. Meas. Contr., 118(3):434–438. [doi:10.1115/1.2801163]
Jin, B., Zhu, Y.G., Li, W., 2013. PID parameters tuning of proportional directional valve based on multiple orthogonal experiments method: method and experiments. Appl. Mech. Mater., 325:1166–1169. [doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.325-326.1166]
Kajima, T., 1993. Development of a high-speed solenoid valve-investigation of the energizing circuits. IEEE. Trans. Ind. Electron., 40(4):428–435. [doi:10.1109/41.232232]
Khoshzaban Zavarehi, M., Lawrence, P.D., Sassani, F., 1999. Nonlinear modeling and validation of solenoid-controlled pilot-operated servovalves. IEEE/ASME Trans. Mechatron., 4(3):324–334. [doi:10.1109/3516.789690]
Kong, X., Wang, H., 2010. A spool displacement control system of proportional valve based on digital observer. Key Eng. Mater., 455:110–115. [doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.455.110]
Li, K., Mannan, M.A., Xu, M., et al., 2001. Electro-hydraulic proportional control of twin-cylinder hydraulic elevators. Contr. Eng. Pract., 9(4):367–373. [doi:10.1016/S0967-0661(01)00003-X]
Liu, Y., Dai, Z., Xu, X., et al., 2011. Multi-domain modeling and simulation of proportional solenoid valve. J. Cent. South Univ. Technol., 18(5):1589–1594. [doi:10.1007/s11771-011-0876-2]
Ruderman, M., Gadyuchko, A., 2013. Phenomenological modeling and measurement of proportional solenoid with stroke-dependent magnetic hysteresis characteristics. IEEE Int. Conf. on Mechatronics, p.180–185. [doi:10.1109/ICMECH.2013.6518532]
Sampson, E., Habibi, S., Burton, R., et al., 2004. Effect of controller in reducing steady-state error due to flow and force disturbances in the electrohydraulic actuator system. Int. J. Fluid Power, 5(2):57–66. [doi:10.1080/14399776.2004.10781192]
Vaughan, N.D., Gamble, J.B., 1996. The modeling and simulation of a proportional solenoid valve. J. Dynam. Syst. Meas. Contr., 118(1):120–125. [doi:10.1115/1.2801131]
Yuan, Q., Li, P.Y., 2002. An experimental study on the use of unstable electrohydraulic valves for control. American Control Conf., p.4843–4848. [doi:10.1109/ACC.2002.1025425]
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51221004) and the Program for Zhejiang Leading Team of S&T Innovation (No. 2010R50036)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jin, B., Zhu, Yg., Li, W. et al. A differential control method for the proportional directional valve. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. C 15, 892–902 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.C1400056
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.C1400056
Key words
- Differential control method
- Frequency response
- Proportional directional valve
- Spool displacement feedback