A Special Kind of Flow Control Valve: The Poppet Valve
A poppet valve is a type of flow control valve that uses a ball and seat instead of a traditional spool. People don’t realise that their vehicles use a poppet valve as a directional valve every day when they drive to work. Without a poppet valve, a vehicle’s combustion engine wouldn’t be able to function.
How does a poppet valve work?
A poppet valve is associated with the application of pressure control. They are directional or flow control valves and are usually identified as fast-acting or high flow valves. This is because of the extensive flow paths through the main body of the valve. Poppet valves have the characteristics of being able to open up quickly, making them perfect for use in engines.
The valve’s working principle
Imagine your sink and the poppet valve is the plug. When you remove the plug, the opening is large, and the flow path opens rapidly. The large opening of a poppet valve allows anything through the valve easily and quickly. A poppet valve is generally made of a flat disk of metal with a long rod. This is called the valve stem. The stem pushes down on the valve to open it, and there is usually a spring to close it when the stem is not being pushed down. Depending on the type of poppet valve, the stem can be moved by various actuators such as pilot, manual, mechanical, or solenoid. It also depends on the application at hand.
Valve design and usage
Most common types of poppet valves have a mushroom-shaped head and a slender stem. They are mostly used in engines. When used in a piston engine, they work by opening and closing the exhaust ports and intake in the cylinder head. The engine manoeuvres the valves by pushing down on the stems with cam followers. The valve life, as well as how slowly or quickly the valve opens up, is determined by the position and shape of the cam follower.
A poppet valve acts as a check valve, with the ability to allow free flows. For specific configurations, poppet valves can direct flows to ports on the valve body like traditional flow control valves. Utilising poppet valves in your pneumatic or hydraulic circuits allows you to have the features of a check valve, and with the versatility of a directional valve.
Master Mac 2000
Master Mac 2000 has been the top distributor of Univer valves and sub-bases since 1984. Univer’s high standard for pneumatic valves and flow control valve components can come with either mixed or spool systems for heavy applications or other applications. Contact MasterMac2000 today for more information or call 07 3344 4711.
About MasterMac2000: Your Trusted Pneumatic & Process Automation Partner.
LEADING THE INDUSTRY: Established in 1989, MasterMac2000 has grown to become one of Australia's largest privately owned pneumatic and process automation companies. We stock top-quality brands like Univer, Mack, Tolomatic, Mac, Piab, American, and Rotoflux in Brisbane.
SERVING QLD & NORTHERN NSW: We proudly service Queensland and Northern New South Wales for all your pneumatic and process equipment needs. Our mission is to provide the best pre and post-sales support while actively expanding our client base.
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DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS:
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About The Author
Stuart Havill
Stuart Havill is the owner and manager of MasterMac2000, Queensland's largest privately owned pneumatic and process valve company.
With his early working career as a maintenance fitter for Boral in 1992, Stuart has spent his life in the field of pneumatics and process equipment. He gained extensive experience in plant design, maintenance, repairs, fabrication, and site management.
In 1996, he transitioned to a pneumatic sales technician role at MasterMac2000, where he excelled in key account management, providing cost-effective solutions, and managing a sales team of 9 employees.
Since 2002, Stuart has been the manager at MasterMac2000, overseeing the company's growth and establishing it as a leader in pneumatic automation and process valve engineering. His expertise spans customer training, CRM setup, industrial compressor sizing and installation, and turn-key project management.
Under Stuart's leadership, MasterMac2000 has been servicing the industry since 1988, with 5 full-time sales representatives covering northern rivers NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory, and PNG. The company prides itself on providing the best-priced solutions to all customers in the marketplace.
View Stuart’s LinkedIn profile to learn more about his expertise in pneumatics and process equipment.