A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures

Hydraulic systems play a crucial role in contemporary industrial applications. Conventional hydraulic valves often encounter challenges regarding their size, energy efficiency, and response speed, which can affect the overall performance and effectiveness of hydraulic systems. Inspired by the efficiency, adaptability, and compactness of human vascular structures and geometries, we designed a novel bio-inspired digital hydraulic valve and examined its performance through simulation. The flow paths and galleries of the valve were optimised according to vascular principles to minimise energy losses and enhance valve operating speeds. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed to analyse the pressure distribution and flow characteristics of the valve. The steady-state simulated results show that the new valve can deliver a flow rate of 90 L/min at a pressure drop of 4.2 bar. The valve demonstrates significant potential in digital hydraulics and could profoundly impact system efficiency and performance. This innovative design could lead to advancements in the operation of hydraulic systems, providing enhanced control and improved overall performance.