A control valve is a mechanical device used in fluid handling systems that manages, directs, or controls the flow of a fluid (such as hydraulic oil, water, or gas) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. In industrial automation, control valves are the final control elements.
In high-pressure hydraulic testing machines, such as those used for evaluating bomb shells and aerospace components, control valves operate under extreme conditions. They rely on signals from a controller—typically a PLC or microprocessor—to finely tune the fluid flow rate. This precision enables the dual-rate filling sequences required to safely test an ammunition shell's cavity volume.
There are several types of control valves based on their internal mechanisms, including globe valves, ball valves, and butterfly valves. However, in specialized hydraulic systems, sophisticated proportional or servo control valves take precedence. They can seamlessly alter the physical volume of hydraulic fluid moving to intensifiers or pressing cylinders up to 1800 bar limit.
By constantly adjusting fluid flow according to the changing parameters logged by the SCADA system, control valves establish the exact testing environment needed for rigorous MIL-STD-1522 defense qualification protocols.
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