Understanding The Difference Between Directional and Proportional Valve
There is no dearth of available technologies in fluid power that is utilized to design the most efficient, cost-effective, and energy-saving system. With a wide range of valves available in the market, it can be quite confusing to understand which valve suits your industrial requirements. Out of all the different types of valves, directional valves and proportional valves are the most commonly used ones. Proportional Valves A proportional valve is a valve that is used to control fluid flow rate by varying the size of the flow passage via a restrictor. These valves enable continuous combined control of flow or pressure. The regulated flow rate subsequently adjusts parameters affecting a process in a system, mainly level, pressure, and temperature. The primary operating principle on which a proportional valve operates relies on variable DC voltage, which controls the plunger. However, in practice, static friction on the plunger’s guide points impairs the valve’s sensitivity, which r...