Question

When do suction valves open?

1) When cylinder pressure is higher than the discharge line pressure.
2) When cylinder pressure is equal across the valves.
3) When cylinder pressure is lower than the suction line pressure.
4) When cylinder pressure is higher than the suction line pressure.

Answer 1

Suction valves open when the cylinder pressure is lower than the suction line pressure, allowing fluid or gas to flow into the cylinder following pressure gradients.

Step-by-step explanation:

Suction valves in mechanical systems such as pumps and compressors open when certain pressure conditions are met. Specifically, a suction valve will open when the cylinder pressure is lower than the suction line pressure. This allows the fluid or gas to flow into the cylinder. In terms of balloons as an analogy, if two balloons are connected via a tube with a valve, and one balloon has higher pressure (P₂) than the other (P₁), upon opening the valve, the gas will flow from the higher-pressure balloon to the lower-pressure one. This principle also applies in hydraulic systems, blood circulation, and gas cylinders, where a difference in pressure causes fluid or gas to move from one area to another following pressure gradients.