A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures

Miaomiao Liu; Min Pan

doi:10.1115/DETC2025-163822

A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding

Abstract

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, a novel bio-inspired 3D-printed digital hydraulic valve was designed, and its performance was examined through simulation. The flow paths and galleries of the valve were optimized according to vascular principles to minimize 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.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	19th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS); 21st International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Control (MSNDC); 37th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Sound (VIB); 38th Fluid Power and Motion Control Symposium (FPMC)
Place of Publication	U. S. A.
Publisher	The American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME)
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9780791889268
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2025-163822
Publication status	Published - 27 Oct 2025
Event	ASME 2025 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2025 - Anaheim, USA United States Duration: 17 Aug 2025 → 20 Aug 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference
Volume	6

Conference

Conference	ASME 2025 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2025
Country/Territory	USA United States
City	Anaheim
Period	17/08/25 → 20/08/25

Funding

This work is supported by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship, MR/X034887/1, entitled “Digital Hydraulic Fluid Power Technologies for Decarbonising Off-road Vehicles”

Keywords

bio-inspired valve
digital hydraulics
high-speed switching valve
linear spool valve

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Mechanical Engineering
Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
Computer Science Applications
Modelling and Simulation

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1115/DETC2025-163822Licence: CC BY

Cite this

Liu, M., & Pan, M. (2025). A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures. In 19th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS); 21st International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Control (MSNDC); 37th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Sound (VIB); 38th Fluid Power and Motion Control Symposium (FPMC) Article v006t12a005 (Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference; Vol. 6). The American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME). https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2025-163822

A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures. / Liu, Miaomiao ; Pan, Min.
19th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS); 21st International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Control (MSNDC); 37th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Sound (VIB); 38th Fluid Power and Motion Control Symposium (FPMC). U. S. A.: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME), 2025. v006t12a005 (Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference; Vol. 6).

Research output: Chapter or section in a book/report/conference proceeding › Chapter in a published conference proceeding

Liu, M & Pan, M 2025, A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures. in 19th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS); 21st International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Control (MSNDC); 37th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Sound (VIB); 38th Fluid Power and Motion Control Symposium (FPMC)., v006t12a005, Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference, vol. 6, The American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME), U. S. A., ASME 2025 International Design Engineering Technical Conferences and Computers and Information in Engineering Conference, IDETC-CIE 2025, Anaheim, USA United States, 17/08/25. https://doi.org/10.1115/DETC2025-163822

Liu M , Pan M. A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures. In 19th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS); 21st International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Control (MSNDC); 37th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Sound (VIB); 38th Fluid Power and Motion Control Symposium (FPMC). U. S. A.: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME). 2025. v006t12a005. (Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference). Epub 2025 Oct 27. doi: 10.1115/DETC2025-163822

Liu, Miaomiao ; Pan, Min. / A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures. 19th International Conference on Micro- and Nanosystems (MNS); 21st International Conference on Multibody Systems, Nonlinear Dynamics, and Control (MSNDC); 37th Conference on Mechanical Vibration and Sound (VIB); 38th Fluid Power and Motion Control Symposium (FPMC). U. S. A. : The American Society of Mechanical Engineers(ASME), 2025. (Proceedings of the ASME Design Engineering Technical Conference).

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abstract = "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, a novel bio-inspired 3D-printed digital hydraulic valve was designed, and its performance was examined through simulation. The flow paths and galleries of the valve were optimized according to vascular principles to minimize 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.",

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AB - 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, a novel bio-inspired 3D-printed digital hydraulic valve was designed, and its performance was examined through simulation. The flow paths and galleries of the valve were optimized according to vascular principles to minimize 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.

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KW - linear spool valve

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A Digital Hydraulic Valve Design Inspired by Vascular Structures

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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