Study and Testing of PRV
Study and Testing of PRV
Study and Testing of PRV
Prof.H.N.Deshpande
Title: Study and testing of Pressure Relief Valve
Introduction
One of the most important considerations in any fluid power system is control. If control components are
not properly selected, the entire system will not function as required. Fluid power is controlled primarily
through the use of control devices called valves. The selection of these valves involves not only the type but
also the size, actuating technique, and remote control capacity. There are three basic types of valves:
1. Pressure Control Valve
2. Direction Control Valve
3. Flow Control Valve
Pressure control valves protect the system against overpressure, which may occur due to excessive
actuator loads or due to the closing of valve. In general pressure control is accomplished by pressure relief,
pressure reducing, sequence, unloading, and counterbalance valves.
One of the important pressure control valve is Pressure Relief Valve. The relief valve is designed or set to
open at a predetermined set to protect system and other equipment from being subjected to pressures that
exceed their design limits. So the pressure relief valve is one of the safety valves in the hydraulic system.
Basic types of pressure relief valves are:
1. Simple Pressure Relief Valves
2. Compound or Pilot Operated Pressure Relief Valves
Details about above valves are explained in further literature.
It should be voted that the poppet must open sufficiently to allow full pump flow. The pressure that
exists at full pump flow can be substantially greater than the cracking pressure. This is shown in figure 2
where system pressure is plotted verses flow through the relief valve. The stiffness of the spring (force
required to compress the spring 1 inch or 1 cm) and the amount the poppet must open to permit full pump
flow determine the difference between the full pump flow pressure and the cracking pressure. The stiffness
of a spring is called the spring constant and has units of lb/in or N/cm. The pressure at full pump flow is the
pressure level that is specified when referring to the pressure setting of the relief valve. It is the maximum
pressure level permitted by the relief valve.
A compound pressure relief valve is one that operates in two stages. As shown in figure the pilot stage is
located in the upper valve body and contains a pressure-limiting poppet that is held against a seat by an
adjustable spring. The lower body contains the port connections. Diversion of the full pump flow is
accomplished by the balanced piston in the lower body.
The operation is as follows.
In normal operation, the balanced piston is in hydraulic balance. An orifice is drilled through the large
land so pressure at the inlet port acts under the piston also on its top. For pressures less than the valve
setting, the piston is held on its seat by a light spring. As soon as pressure reaches the setting of the
adjustable spring, the poppet is forced off its seat. This limits the pressure in the upper chamber. The
restricted flow through the orifice on the upper chamber results in an increase in pressure in the lower
chamber. This causes an unbalance in hydraulic forces, which tends to raise the piston off its seat. When the
pressure difference between the upper and lower chambers reaches 1.5 bar approximately, the large piston
lifts off its seat to permit flow directly to the tank. If flow through the valve increases, the piston lifts farther
off its seat. However, this compresses only the light spring, and hence very little override occurs.
Compound relief valves may be remotely operated by using the outlet port from the chamber above
the piston. For example, this chamber can be vented to the tank via a solenoid directional control valve.
PESs Modern College of Engineering Pune 5
Procedure:
1. Ensure that safety relief valve is adjusted to its maximum position.
2. Ensure that hydraulic oil is available in enough quantity.
3. Connect the flexible hose to P-manifold and pressure gauge.
4. Switch ON the electric power supply of Electric Board, Mains & Motor on-off switch.
5. Adjust the safety relief valve at various positions. Observe the different pressure at pressure gauge in
the range of 50-80 bar.
6. Switch off the electric supply at motor & mains.
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PESs Modern College of Engineering Pune 5