DRV Product Introduction

The fuel pressure control valve comprises a fuel-cooled solenoid valve.

The valve opening is varied by its solenoid coil being pulse width modulated at a frequency of 1 KHz.

When the pressure control valve is not activated, its internal spring maintains

a fuel pressure of about 100 Bar. When the valve is activated,

the force of the electromagnet aids the spring, reducing the opening of the valve

and so increasing fuel pressure. The fuel pressure control valve also acts as

a mechanical pressure damper, smoothing the high frequency pressure pulses

emanating from the radial piston pump when less than three pistons are activated.

In a modern common-rail diesel fuel system, the Diesel Regulator Valve (DRV)—also known as a Pressure Control Valve (PCV), Fuel Metering Valve, or Fuel Control Actuator—is essential for maintaining precise fuel rail pressure. It receives a PWM (pulse-width modulation) signal from the engine control unit (ECU), adjusting its internal valve to regulate the amount of fuel delivered to the rail. This closed-loop control ensures that actual rail pressure closely matches the target pressure specified by the ECU.

Early common-rail designs relied on simply spilling excess fuel back to the tank, which proved inefficient and led to excessive heat buildup. The DRV, however, meters fuel either at the inlet or outlet of the high-pressure pump, ensuring that only the necessary volume is pressurized—enhancing fuel efficiency, reducing thermal load, and improving system durability.

DRV placement varies: it may be integrated into the pump body (pump-integrated) or mounted at the rail end (pump-external). Pump-integrated valves manage internal leakage and assist with pump lubrication, whereas pump-external DRVs provide faster response times due to their proximity to the rail's pressure sensor.

In summary, the DRV is a proportional electromagnetic valve that continuously adjusts fuel flow into or out of the pump or rail. It stabilizes rail pressure, minimizes unnecessary fuel pressurization, and dynamically adapts to changing engine demands, thereby optimizing combustion efficiency, emissions, and component longevity