(585v) Pilot Valve CFD Modelling

Pilot valves are utilized in many industrial processes. Increasing their performance efficiency as well as reducing cavitation are main objectives of the designers. We have numerically studied the motion of a 3D pilot valve to investigate the flow field, presence and location of cavitation spots as well as flow forces on the valve components. The motion of the poppet was included through the balance of spring and hydrodynamics forces. A dynamic mesh strategy was utilized to accommodate for the motion of the poppet. History of the volumetric flow rates, flow forces, and the cavitation regions are the main outputs of the simulations. The flow-rate compared favorably with the experiment where the test data was available. The outputs of this study are crucial for optimizing of the design of these valves to enhance the performance and reduce the cavitation.