Proportional Control Valves

Bring exceptional productivity and precision to your industrial processes with the RS range of robust and reliable proportional control valves.

These accurate components are designed to control outputs such as temperature, flow, pressure, and direction for systems containing liquids and gases. They are integral to the safety and efficiency of countless processes across manufacturing, engineering, shipping, and more.

To ensure your systems can benefit from the accuracy of proportional control valves, we stock a wide range including pneumatic proportional flow control valves, hydraulic proportional pressure control valves, and proportional directional control valves, among others.

Several voltage ratings, operating pressures, port sizes, and thread types are available too. And with SMC Corporation, Norgren, and Festo proportional flow control valves available, you can be sure your selection will perform effectively, improving performance, guaranteeing safety, and reducing maintenance and running costs.

Whatever the requirements of your system, use the filters to the left of the age to find proportional control valves that perfectly match your preferences. Read on to learn more, contact our team, or visit our expert hub.

What is a proportional control valve?

A proportional control valve is a component used to control the rate of gas or liquid output precisely and variably within a system or line, such as pressure, temperature, level or flow rate.

As opposed to operating in an on-off fashion, proportional control valves increase the output of the valve in proportion to the electrical signal they receive from the amplifier card they are connected to. This card is controlled by the user and usually connected to sensors on the valve that provide data used to accurately track and adjust the actuator and output.

Proportional control valve actuators typically use electromagnetic solenoid technology. When one of two coils of wire at either end of the valve is electrified, a magnetic field is created. This acts against a spool, the position of which moderates the output of the substance flowing through the valve ports.

This spool, also known as a core, is suspended between two springs. This creates tension between the spool and the two coils (and the magnetic fields they generate) at either end. As either field receives voltage and becomes stronger, the core can be maneuvered back and forth within the component, controlling the output.

What types of proportional control valves are available?

When it comes to the choice of proportional control valves, there are several types available depending on what type of line they are used to control and their means of operation, including:

• Hydraulic proportional control valves – These are used within hydraulic lines that contain a flow of liquid.
• Pneumatic proportional control valves – These valves are used to control the output of gas-filled lines.
• Proportional directional control valves – These valves act as a switch. With an on-off action, they can move outputs in various directions, dependent on the number of ports on the valve.
• Direct proportional control valves – A type of solenoid valve, these feature a solenoid, movable spool, spool spring, and valve body. The spool is moved out or into the valve body in proportion to the magnetic field created by the solenoid, increasing or limiting the output.
• Pilot proportional control valves – Another solenoid-controlled valve, these are similar to direct proportional control valves, however, they feature a pilot and bleed orifice. These two extra components allow the valve to use some of the pressure moving through the line to lift a piston or diaphragm connected to the spool which protects the internal valve components.

What are proportional control valves used for?

Proportional control valves allow for the variable control of spool movement, as well as the metering of flow speed and direction. They are typically used in open-loop systems.

They also allow step control and can be used when the actuator must be accelerated or decelerated smoothly. However, they are only effective when used to control small output ranges and are not highly responsive.

You can use a proportional control valve with water, chemicals, steam, gas – any flowing medium that is not overly corrosive to the spool and springs within the valve. This flexibility means they are used across a remarkably broad range of processes including metalworking, turbines, oil and gas, marine and offshore, civil engineering, leak testing, and much more.

The benefits of the RS proportional control valve range

By their nature, proportional control valves must be precise and reliable. Without being robustly designed and manufactured, they cannot be relied upon to accurately control lines that have important roles to play in guaranteeing safety and industrial performance.

Choose the RS range, and you can install and operate your proportional control valves confident in the knowledge they will sustain or improve efficiency and safeguard against costly maintenance.

Our valves are produced in line with the highest control valve standards by trusted names in the industry such as RS PRO, Aventics, and Festo, and with multiple series available, you can be sure to find a component that fits your requirements. View the range today.

If you wish to learn more about proportional control valves, contact our team or browse our expert hub.