Method for operating a valve

Abstract

A method for operating a valve comprising a first valve part (1) having at least one opening (2, 5) formed therein and a second valve part (3) having at least one opening (4, 6) formed therein is disclosed. The first (1) and second (3) valve parts are adapted to perform relative movements, the relative position of the opening(s) (2, 5) of the first valve part (1) and the opening(s) (4, 6) of the second valve part (3) defining an opening degree of the valve by means of an overlapping area of an opening (2, 5) of the first valve part (1) and an opening (4, 6) of the second valve part (3). The method comprises the step of moving the first valve part (1) and/or the second valve part (3) from a position defining a maximum opening degree of the valve towards a position defining a minimum opening degree of the valve in such a manner that the velocity of the relative movement between the first valve part (1) and the second valve part (3) varies as a function of an overlapping area between an opening (2, 5) of the first valve part (1) and an opening (4, 6) of the second valve part (3), in such a manner that the velocity is decreased as the overlapping area decreases. Operating the valve in this manner causes water hammering to be reduced, while ensuring appropriate operation and acceptable response times of the valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.