Flow regulators are called flow control valves or flow valves (also called throughflow valve or throttle valve). These valves are used to regulate the flow rate of the medium used. Flow control valves are used in hydraulics and pneumatics to regulate the flow of hydraulic fluid or compressed air.
Flow control valves are divided into:
With a throttle valve, the greater the pressure difference, the greater the volumetric flow rate, since the volumetric flow rate depends on the differential pressure at the throttle point.
In contrast, a flow control valve (volume control valve) is equipped with pressure compensation. This ensures that the set volumetric flow rate remains unchanged even if the pressure drop across the valve changes.
Festo offers a wide range of flow control valves for factory and process automation. Discover our portfolio of flow control valves: throttle valves, one-way flow control valves and time delay valves.
Throttle valves belong to the group of flow control valves. They restrict the flow rate of the compressed air in the flow direction. A throttle valve is used to regulate volumetric flow rates. In this case, the restrictor represents a narrowing of the line cross-section – it is a local flow resistance.
With one-way flow control valves, one direction is restricted, the other is free. One-way flow control valves are used to adjust the speed of pneumatic cylinders – in contrast, flow control valves are used to adjust an air or fluid flow.
Time delay valves switch over after the signal output and after a preset time has elapsed. These products from Festo are used in simple pneumatic controllers, in addition to logic valves, etc.
Flow control valves are used to reduce the speed of a cylinder or the rotational speed of a motor. Both variables depend on the volumetric flow rate, which must be reduced.
A flow control valve is equipped with pressure compensation. This means that the set volumetric flow rate remains unchanged even if the pressure drop across the valve changes.
A check valve ensures that the medium (gas or liquid) only flows in one direction and cannot flow back. One-way flow control valves open automatically as soon as the liquid or gas flows. When the direction of the flow changes, the valve closes.