Computational and Experimental Study of Plastic Valves with 3D Printed Poppets

The chapter delves into the computational and experimental analysis of plastic valves equipped with 3D printed poppets. It begins by discussing the increasing importance of plastics in various technical fields, including hydraulic drives, where their use is still limited. The study focuses on a throttle valve made of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with three different poppet designs, manufactured using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Numerical simulations were conducted using CFD, employing the finite volume method in Ansys Fluent® to model the flow characteristics and cavitation phenomena. The simulations were validated through experimental tests, which involved a test stand with precise measurement instruments. The results show a good agreement between the numerical and experimental data for higher valve opening values, providing insights into the flow stream distribution and areas of cavitation formation. The study concludes by highlighting the potential of the numerical model to predict flow characteristics and introduce poppet shape modifications without extensive manufacturing. Future research will address small gap flow phenomena and cavitation effects.