When the plug of a mixing valve is fully raised, what happens to the side inlet flow?

When the plug of a mixing valve is fully raised, the design of the valve allows for a complete closure of the side inlet flow. This is because the mechanism of the valve is structured to control the mix of fluids based on the position of the internal components. In this case, raising the plug fully results in the blocking of the path for the side inlet flow, effectively shutting it off.

This function is critical in systems where controlling the mixture of two or more streams is necessary to achieve the desired temperature or flow characteristics. By shutting off the side inlet, the mixing valve can ensure that only the primary flow coming through the main inlet is allowed to continue, thus ensuring precise control over the mixing process. Understanding this operation is essential for effective management of thermal systems in power engineering applications.