3-Way Directional Valve (TL)

3-position directional valve in a thermal liquid network

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Libraries:
Simscape / Fluids / Thermal Liquid / Valves & Orifices / Directional Control Valves

Description

The 3-Way Directional Valve (TL) block represents a valve with three openings in a thermal liquid network, typically between an actuator, pump, and tank. The valve operation is controlled by a single spool displaced according to the signal at port S. You can set the baseline configuration of your valve by specifying the orifices that are open when the spool moves in the positive direction and negative directions in the Positive spool position open connections and Negative spool position open connections parameters, respectively.

You can set the model for valve opening in the Orifice parameterization parameter as a linear relationship or function of user-provided data, which can be applied to one or all flow paths in the valve.

In this configuration, Positive spool position open connections is set to A-T. When the signal at port S moves the spool to a positive position, the path between ports A and T is open to flow. The paths between ports P and A and between ports P and T are closed:

In this configuration, Negative spool position open connections is set to P-A. When the signal at port S moves the spool to a negative position, the path between ports P and A is open to flow and the paths between ports T and A and between ports P and T are closed:

You can open the path between ports P and T by setting either Positive spool position open connections or Negative spool position open connections to P-T or P-A, A-T, P-T.

A flow path can be open in either the positive or negative spool positions, but not both.

Valve Orifice Parameterizations

The Orifice parameterization sets the method for calculating the valve open area. The calculations are based either on the orifice parameters or tabulated data sets specified in the Model Parameterization tab. The block uses the same data for all flow paths if Area characteristics is set to Identical for all flow paths; otherwise, individual values are applied in the Different for all flow paths setting. The orifice parameterizations are:

• Linear - area vs. spool travel

  The opening area is a linear function of the spool travel distance and the signal received at port S:

  $$A_{orifice}=\frac{\left(A_{\max }-A_{leak}\right)}{\Delta S_{\max }}\Delta S+A_{leak},$$

  where:

  • A_max is the Maximum orifice area.

  • A_leak is the Leakage area.

  • ΔS_max is the Spool travel between closed and open orifice.

  • ΔS is the spool travel distance. For flow paths that are open in the positive position:

    $$\Delta S=S_{orifice\_\max }-\Delta S_{\max }+S,$$

    and for flow paths that are open in the negative position:

    $$\Delta S=S_{orifice\_\max }+\Delta S_{\max }-S,$$

    where S_{orifice_max} is the Spool position at maximum orifice area.

  

  When the valve is in a near-open or near-closed position in the linear parameterization, you can maintain numerical robustness in your simulation by adjusting the Smoothing factor parameter. If the Smoothing factor parameter is nonzero, the block smoothly saturates the opening area between A_leak and A_max. For more information, see Numerical Smoothing.

• Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel

  Provide spool travel vectors for your system or for individual flow paths between ports P and A, A and T, and P and T. This data will be used to calculate the relationship between the orifice opening area and spool travel distance. Interpolation is used to determine the opening area between given data points. A_leak and A_max are the first and last parameters of the Opening area vector, respectively.

  

• Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop

  Provide spool travel and pressure drop vectors. The volumetric flow rate is calculated based on the relationship between pressure change and the spool travel distance. Interpolation is used to determine flow rate between given data points. The mass flow rate is the product of the volumetric flow rate and the local density.

  

  When you set Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop the block calculates the mass flow rate directly from the control member position and the pressure drop across the valve. The relationship between the three variables can be nonlinear and it is given by the tabulated data in the Spool travel vector, ds, Pressure drop vector, dp, and Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters.

  

Visualize Orifice Openings

To visualize spool offsets and displacement, right-click the block and select Fluids > Plot Valve Characteristics. The plot shows the orifices selected in the Valve Configuration settings. The parameterization selection sets the axes, which are either:

• Orifice area versus spool position

• Volumetric flow rate versus spool position, queried at a specific pressure differential

• Mass flow rate versus spool position for the reference inflow temperature and reference inflow pressure, queried at a specific pressure differential

To update the data after changing the block parameters, click Reload Data on the figure window.

This image shows an example valve configuration. In the Valve Configuration settings:

• Positive spool position open connections is P-A.

• Negative spool position open connections is A-T.

All other spool positions are at the default values.

Faults

To model a fault, in the Faults section, click the Add fault hyperlink next to the fault that you want to model. Use the fault parameters to specify the fault properties. For more information about fault modeling, see Introduction to Simscape Faults.

The Spool position when faulted parameter has three fault options:

• Positive — The spool position freezes in the positive position, and the flow paths specified by the Positive spool position open connections parameter open to their maximum value. The flow paths specified by the Negative spool position open connections parameter are closed.

• Negative — The spool position freezes in the positive position, and the flow paths specified by the Negative spool position open connections parameter open to their maximum value. The flow paths specified by the Positive spool position open connections parameter are closed.

• Maintain last value — The valve freezes at the spool position when the trigger occurs.

Due to numerical smoothing at the extremes of the valve area, in the linear parameterization, the minimum area that he block uses is larger than the Leakage area, and the maximum is smaller than the Maximum orifice area, in proportion to the Smoothing factor value. For more information, see Numerical Smoothing.

After the fault triggers, the valve remains at the faulted area for the rest of the simulation.

Assumptions

• Fluid inertia is ignored.

• Spool loading due to inertial, spring, and other forces is ignored.

• All valve orifices are assumed to be identical in size unless otherwise specified.

Examples

Electric Vehicle Thermal Management

Model the thermal management system of a battery electric vehicle.

• Open Model

Ports

Input

S — Control member displacement

physical signal

Displacement of the valve control member, in m. This is equivalent to the spool position.

Conserving

P — Flow passage

thermal liquid

Opening through which the flow can enter or exit the valve. This port is typically connected to a fluid supply line.

T — Flow passage

thermal liquid

Opening through which the flow can enter or exit the valve. This port is typically connected to a fluid return line.

A — Flow passage

thermal liquid

Opening through which the flow can enter or exit the valve. This port is typically connected to an actuation line.

Parameters

Model Parameterization

Positive spool position open connections — Flow paths open when the spool is in a positive position

P-A (default) | All closed | P-A, A-T, P-T | P-T | A-T

Flow paths open when the spool is in a positive position. This parameter sets the valve configuration and defines the direction of spool movement according to the signal received at port S.

Negative spool position open connections — Flow paths open when the spool moves in the negative direction

A-T (default) | All closed | P-A, A-T, P-T | P-A | P-T

Flow paths open when the spool moves in the negative direction. This parameter sets the valve configuration and defines the direction of spool movement according to the signal received at port S.

Area characteristics — Flow equations for orifices

Identical for all flow paths (default) | Different for each flow path

Applies uniform or individual flow equations for the valve orifice area. Identical for all flow paths uses the same orifice and spool geometries, flow rates, pressure, and area vectors for all valve orifices. When using Different for each flow path, the spool offsets and tabulated data are assigned to the orifices between ports P and A, ports A and T, and ports P and T. In both cases, ports A, P, and T have the same cross-sectional areas, discharge coefficients, and Reynolds numbers. The same Orifice parameterization is also applied to all flow paths.

Orifice parameterization — Method of calculating opening area

Linear area vs. spool travel (default) | Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel | Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure dropTabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop

Method of calculating the valve opening area. In the tabulated data parameterizations, you can provide your own valve area and spool travel data for nonlinear valve opening profiles, or you can provide data in terms of volumetric flow rate, spool travel, and pressure drop over the flow path. The thermal liquid domain allows you to parameterize the orifice using tabulated mass flow rate data.

Spool travel between closed and open orifice — Maximum spool stroke

5e-3 m (default) | positive scalar

Maximum distance of spool travel. This value provides an upper limit to calculations so that simulations do not return unphysical values.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths.

Maximum orifice area — Maximum orifice opening area

1e-4 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Largest open area during operation of valve.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths.

Spool travel vector — Vector of valve opening distance

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-byn vector

Vector of control member travel distances for the tabular parameterization of valve area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the Orifice area vector parameter. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

Orifice area vector — Vector of valve opening areas

[1e-10, 1e-05, 4e-05, 8e-05, .0001]m^2 (default) | 1-byn vector

Vector of opening areas for the tabular parameterization of valve opening area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the Spool travel vector parameter. The elements are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Opening parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

Leakage area — Gap area when in fully closed position

1e-10 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Sum of all gaps when the valve is in its fully closed position. Any area smaller than this value is maintained at the specified leakage area. This contributes to numerical stability by maintaining continuity in the flow.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Linear - area vs. spool travel.

Smoothing factor — Numerical smoothing factor

0.01 (default) | positive scalar in the range [0,1]

Continuous smoothing factor that introduces a layer of gradual change based to the flow response when the valve is in near-open and near-closed positions. To increase the stability of your simulation in these regimes, set this parameter to a nonzero value less than one.

Spool travel vector, ds — Vector of valve opening distances

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of control member travel distances for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The spool travel vector forms an independent axis with the Pressure drop vector, dp parameter for the 3-D dependent Volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. A positive displacement corresponds to valve opening. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Pressure drop vector, dp — Vector of valve pressure drop values

[-.1, .3, .5, .7] MPa (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of pressure drop values for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The pressure drop vector forms an independent axis with the Spool travel vector, s parameter for the 3-D dependent Volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. The values are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) — Array of volumetric flow rates

[-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] m^3/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

M-by-N matrix of volumetric flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the Spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the Pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Reference inflow temperature — Temperature at which pressure-drop data is specified

293.15 K (default) | positive scalar

Temperature at which the tabulated pressure-drop data is specified.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Reference inflow pressure — Pressure at which pressure-drop tabulated data is specified

0.101325 MPa (default) | positive scalar

Pressure at which the tabulated pressure-drop data is specified. The block uses this parameter to calculate a third reference parameter, the reference density. The reference that it uses to scale the tabulated pressure drop data for pressures and temperatures deviating from the reference conditions.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) — Mass flow rate

1e3 * [-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] kg/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

Mass flow rate for M given control member positions and N given pressure drops over the orifice. The control member position represents a spool or other mechanism that controls the opening area.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Discharge coefficient — Discharge coefficient

0.64 (default) | positive scalar

Correction factor that accounts for discharge losses in theoretical flows.

Critical Reynolds number — Upper Reynolds number limit for laminar flow

150 (default) | positive scalar

Upper Reynolds number limit for laminar flow through the valve.

Pressure recovery — Whether to account for pressure increase in area expansions

on (default) | off

Select to account for pressure increase when fluid flows from a region of a smaller cross-sectional area to a region of larger cross-sectional area.

Cross-sectional area at ports A, P and T — Area at valve entry or exit

0.01 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Cross-sectional area at the entry and exit ports A, P, and T. These areas are used in the pressure-flow rate equation that determines volumetric flow rate through the valve.

P-A Orifice

Spool position at maximum P-A orifice area — Spool offset at maximum area between ports P and A

4.5e-3 m (default) | scalar

Initial orifice opening distance between ports P and A. The default represents a underlapped system.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is less than the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is underlapped, or partially open when the spool position equals 0 m.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is greater than the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is overlapped. This means the valve remains closed over a range of spool positions.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is equal to the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is zero-lapped. This means the valve is closed when the spool position equals 0 and begins to open as soon as the spool position changes.

P-A spool travel between closed and open orifice — Maximum stroke for the spool between ports P and A

0.005 m (default) | positive scalar

Maximum distance of spool travel for the orifice between ports P and A. This value provides an upper limit to calculations so that simulations do not return unphysical values.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path.

P-A maximum orifice area — Maximum area between ports P and A

1e-4 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Cross-sectional area of the orifice between ports P and A in its fully open position.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Linear - area vs. spool travel.

P-A orifice spool travel vector — Vector of valve opening distance

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-byn vector

Vector of control member travel distances for the tabular parameterization of valve area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the P-A orifice area vector parameter. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

P-A orifice area vector — Vector of valve opening areas

[1e-10, 1e-05, 4e-05, 8e-05, .0001] m^2 (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of opening areas for the tabular parameterization of valve opening area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the P-A orifice spool travel vector parameter. The elements are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Opening parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

P-A orifice spool travel vector, ds — Vector of valve opening distances

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of control member travel distances for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The spool travel vector forms an independent axis with the P-A orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter for the 3-D dependent P-A orifice volumetric flow rate table, q(s,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. A positive displacement corresponds to valve opening. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-A orifice pressure drop vector, dp — Vector of pressure drop values over the valve

[-.1, .3, .5, .7] MPa (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of pressure drop values for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The pressure drop vector forms an independent axis with the P-A orifice spool travel vector, s parameter for the 3-D dependent P-A orifice volumetric flow rate table, q(s,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. The values are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-A orifice (ds,dp) — Vector of valve volumetric flow rates

[-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] m^3/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

M-by-N matrix of volumetric flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the P-A orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the P-A orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-A orifice mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) — Vector of valve mass flow rates

1e3 * [-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] kg/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

M-by-N matrix of mass flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the P-A orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the P-A orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

A-T Orifice

Spool position at maximum A-T orifice area — Spool offset at maximum area between ports A and T

-4.5e-3 m (default) | scalar

Initial orifice opening distance between ports A and T. The default represents a underlapped system.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is less than the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is underlapped, or partially open when the spool position equals 0 m.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is greater than the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is overlapped. This means the valve remains closed over a range of spool positions.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is equal to the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is zero-lapped. This means the valve is closed when the spool position equals 0 and begins to open as soon as the spool position changes.

A-T spool travel between closed and open orifice — Maximum stroke for the spool between ports A and T

0.005 m (default) | positive scalar

Maximum distance of spool travel for the orifice between ports A and T. This value provides an upper limit to calculations so that simulations do not return unphysical values.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics type to Different for each flow path.

A-T maximum orifice area — Maximum area between ports A and T

1e-4 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Cross-sectional area of the orifice between ports A and T in its fully open position.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Linear - area vs. spool travel.

A-T orifice spool travel vector — Vector of valve opening distances

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of control member travel distances for the tabular parameterization of valve area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the A-T orifice area vector parameter. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

A-T orifice area vector — Vector of valve opening areas

[1e-10, 1e-05, 4e-05, 8e-05, .0001] m^2 (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of opening areas for the tabular parameterization of valve opening area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the A-T orifice spool travel vector parameter. The elements are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Opening parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

A-T orifice spool travel vector, ds — Vector of valve opening distances

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of control member travel distances for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The spool travel vector forms an independent axis with the A-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter for the 3-D dependent A-T orifice (ds,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. A positive displacement corresponds to valve opening. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

A-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp — Vector of pressure drop values over the valve

[-.1, .3, .5, .7] MPa (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of pressure drop values for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The pressure drop vector forms an independent axis with the A-T orifice spool travel vector, s parameter for the 3-D dependent A-T orifice (ds,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. The values are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

A-T orifice volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) — Vector of volumetric flow rate for tabular parameterization - different flow paths

[-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] m^3/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

M-by-N matrix of volumetric flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the A-T orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the A-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

A-T orifice mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) — Vector of mass flow rate for tabular parameterization - different flow paths

1e3 * [-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] kg/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

M-by-N matrix of mass flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the A-T orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the A-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-T Orifice

Spool position at maximum P-T orifice area — Spool offset at maximum area between ports P and T

4.5e-3 m (default) | scalar

Initial orifice opening distance between ports P and T. The default represents a underlapped system.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is less than the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is underlapped, or partially open when the spool position equals 0 m.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is greater than the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is overlapped. This means the valve remains closed over a range of spool positions.

• If the magnitude of Spool position at maximum orifice area is equal to the value of Spool travel between closed and open orifice, the orifice is zero-lapped. This means the valve is closed when the spool position equals 0 and begins to open as soon as the spool position changes.

P-T spool travel between closed and open orifice — Maximum stroke for the spool between ports P and T

0.005 m (default) | positive scalar

Maximum distance of spool travel for the orifice between ports P and T. This value provides an upper limit to calculations so that simulations do not return unphysical values.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics type to Different for each flow path.

P-T maximum orifice area — Maximum area between ports P and T

1e-4 m^2 (default) | positive scalar

Cross-sectional area of the orifice between ports P and T in its fully open position.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Linear - area vs. spool travel.

P-T orifice spool travel vector — Vector of valve opening distances

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of control member travel distances for the tabular parameterization of valve area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the P-T orifice area vector parameter. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

P-T orifice area vector — Vector of valve opening areas

[1e-10, 1e-05, 4e-05, 8e-05, .0001] m^2 (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of opening areas for the tabular parameterization of valve opening area. The vector elements must correspond one-to-one with the elements in the P-T orifice spool travel vector parameter. The elements are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Opening parameterization to Tabulated data - Area vs. spool travel.

P-T orifice spool travel vector, ds — Vector of valve opening distances

[0, .00125, .0025, .00375, .005] m (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of control member travel distances for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The spool travel vector forms an independent axis with the P-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter for the 3-D dependent P-T orifice volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. A positive displacement corresponds to valve opening. The values are listed in ascending order and the first element must be 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp — Vector of pressure drop values over the valve

[-.1, .3, .5, .7] MPa (default) | 1-by-n vector

Vector of pressure drop values for tabular parametrization of volumetric flow rate. The pressure drop vector forms an independent axis with the P-T orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter for the 3-D dependent P-T orifice volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) or Mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) parameters. The values are listed in ascending order and must be greater than 0. Linear interpolation is employed between table data points.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Identical for all flow paths and Orifice parameterization to Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop or Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-T orifice volumetric flow rate table, q(ds,dp) — Vector of volumetric flow rate for tabular parameterization - different flow paths

[-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] m^3/s (default) | M-by-N matrix

M-by-N matrix of volumetric flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the P-T orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the P-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Volumetric flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

P-T orifice mass flow rate table, mdot(ds,dp) — Vector of mass flow rate for tabular parameterization - different flow paths

1e3 * [-9.05e-10, 1.57e-09, 2.02e-09, 2.39e-09; -9.05e-05, .000157, .000202, .000239; -.000362, .000627, .00081, .000958; -.000724, .00125, .00162, .00192; -.000905, .00156, .002, .00239] kg/s (default)

M-by-N matrix of mass flow rates based on independent values of pressure drop and spool travel distance. M and N are the sizes of the corresponding vectors:

• M is the number of elements in the P-T orifice spool travel vector, ds parameter.

• N is the number of elements in the P-T orifice pressure drop vector, dp parameter.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, set Area characteristics to Different for each flow path and Orifice parameterization to Tabulated data - Mass flow rate vs. spool travel and pressure drop.

Faults

3-Way Directional Valve Area fault — Option to model valve area fault

Add fault

Option to model a valve area fault in the block. To add a fault, click the Add fault hyperlink. When a fault occurs, the valve area normally set by the opening parameterization is set based the value specified in the Spool position when faulted parameter.

Spool position when faulted — Faulted valve characteristics

Positive (default) | Negative | Maintain last value

Faulted valve spool position. You can choose for the valve to seize when the spool is in the positive position, negative position, or at the position when the fault triggers.

Dependencies

To enable this parameter, click the Add fault hyperlink.

Extended Capabilities

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

Version History

Introduced in R2016a

R2024b: Model faults with the Simscape faults interface

The 3-Way Directional Valve (TL) block now supports the Simscape faults interface. To learn more, see Introduction to Simscape Faults.

R2022b: Right-click blocks to view opening characteristic plots

You can view the plot of the area or volumetric flow rate with respect to spool position for each orifice by right-clicking the block and selecting Fluids > Plot Valve Characteristics.