FLUID POWER CONTROL UNIT USING ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS

Authors

  • Kexiang Wei State Key Laboratory of Vibration, Shock & Noise, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
  • Guang Meng State Key Laboratory of Vibration, Shock & Noise, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
  • Shisha Zhu School of Mechanical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China

Keywords:

electrorheological (ER) fluids, ER valve, fluid control unit, design criterion

Abstract

Electrorheological (ER) fluids can change their rheological properties when subjected to an electrical field. By using ER fluids as the working medium in fluid power systems, direct interface can be realized between electric signals and fluid power without the need for mechanical moving parts in fluid control unit. The pressure drop and flow rate can be directly controlled through the change of applied electric fields. This paper investigates the design and controllability of ER fluid power control system for large flows. The design criterion for an ER valve is proposed and four ER valves are manufactured based on this criterion. A fluid control unit consisting of an ER valves bridge circuit is constructed, the characteristics of which are theoretically and experimentally investigated. The results show that the ER fluid control units have better controllability for fluid power control.

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Author Biographies

Kexiang Wei, State Key Laboratory of Vibration, Shock & Noise, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

Keixiang Wei He received the M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Xiangtan University, China, in 2002. He is currently working toward the Ph.D. degree at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research interests are applications of ER and MR technology.

Guang Meng, State Key Laboratory of Vibration, Shock & Noise, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China

Guang Meng He is currently a professor at the State Key Laboratory of VSN, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. His research interests include Dynamic, vibration control, smart material and structures, MEMS.

Shisha Zhu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan, 411105, China

Shisha Zhu He is currently a professor of School of Mechanical Engineering, Xiangtan University. His research interests are fluid control and ER technology.

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Published

2004-11-01

How to Cite

Wei, K., Meng, G., & Zhu, S. (2004). FLUID POWER CONTROL UNIT USING ELECTRORHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS. International Journal of Fluid Power, 5(3), 49–54. Retrieved from https://journals.riverpublishers.com/index.php/IJFP/article/view/582

Issue

2004: Vol 05 Iss 3

Section

Original Article

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