Optimization of geometry of annular seat valves suitable for Digital Displacement fluid power pumps/motors

Digital Displacement Fluid Power is an upcoming technology setting new standards for the achievable efficiency of fluid power pumps and motors. The core element of the Digital Displacement technology is high performance electronically controlled seat valves, which must exhibit very low flow pressure loss and switching times within a few milliseconds to enable high efficiency operation. These valves are mechatronic components and special attention to both the mechanical, electromagnetic, fluid dynamical and control system design must be paid to ensure the needed performance. In the present work an annular seat valve suitable for use in Digital Displacement units is considered, and the ring geometry is optimized using finite element analysis including non-linear material behaviour, contact elements and fluid pressure penetrating load, closely reflecting the actual load of the seat valve connected to a fluid pressure chamber. The search for optimal design points is conducted using a brute force strategy with subsequent selection of the dominating design points.