An Adaptive Control Method for the Distribution Valve of a Digital Pump

Abstract

Perfect flow distribution is extremely important and essential for digital pumps. However, the fluctuation of motor speed and the change of valve dynamic characteristics cause the flow distribution flaw, which generates the backflow of the oil in the piston chamber and the decrease in pump volumetric efficiency. Based on the three-dimensional and mathematical modeling of the digital pump, the perfect distribution state of the digital pump is analyzed. Then, the adverse effects of the variations in motor speed and valve dynamic characteristics on the flow distribution of the digital pump were simulated and investigated by the software AMESim. To overcome the aforementioned problems, we proposed an adaptive control method for the flow distribution valve of a digital pump, which was realized by adopting the axis rotation angle and the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of the flow distribution valve. The results show that the control signal of the flow distribution valve can be regulated automatically along with the motor speed and the valve dynamic characteristics, achieving the ideal flow distribution of the digital pump designed in this paper. The study can be used as a reference for the optimal design and prototype manufacturing of the digital pump.