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Valve Actuator

Simplified model of valve driver


Valve Actuators


The Valve Actuator block represents a simplified model of a valve actuator, which is especially suitable for real-time and HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) simulation. Its functionality is similar to the 2-Position Valve Actuator and 3-Position Valve Actuator blocks, but its characterization requires fewer parameters because it is built of components that are practically linear.

The Valve Actuator block is built using the blocks from the Simscape™ Physical Signals library. Both the input and the output of the block are physical signals. The block diagram of the model is shown in the following figure.

The gain of the PS Gain 1 block establishes the steady-state relationship between the input and output signals. The PS Saturation block keeps the output signal within the +/– valve stroke range. The gain of the PS Gain 2 block is 1/Time constant, which makes it possible to reproduce the first-order lag by combining this block with the PS Subtract and PS Integrator blocks.

The transfer function of the lag is

where T is the time constant. The gain of the PS Gain 3 block is set to 1.

Dialog Box and Parameters

Valve stroke

The desired valve stroke, which defines the saturation level of the PS Saturation block in the actuator model. The output of the actuator is kept within the +/– valve stroke range. The default value is 0.005 m.

Time constant

Time constant of the first-order lag. The Gain parameter of the PS Gain 2 block is equal to 1/Time constant. The default value is 0.01 s.

Actuator gain

Gain of the PS Gain 1 block in the block diagram of the actuator model. The default value is 5e-4 m.



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