Flow Controls

The purpose of a flow control in a pneumatic application is to regulate speed. These devises control the speed of an actuator by regulating the flow rate. Flow rate also determines rate of energy transfer at any given pressure. The two are related in that the actuator force multiplied by the distance through which it moves (stroke) equals the work done on the load. The energy transferred must also equal the work done. Actuator speed determines the rate of energy transfer (i.e., horsepower), and speed is thus a function of flow rate.