A hydraulic flow divider takes oil from a single hydraulic supply and distributes it between two separate circuits. Depending on the valve design, the flow can be divided in a fixed proportion or allocated to a priority circuit before the remaining oil is directed elsewhere.

Flow dividers are commonly used to synchronise hydraulic cylinders, control hydraulic motor speeds, and operate multiple functions from one pump.

The Webtec FDC60 and FDC140 Series are flow divider-combiners, while the FV120 provides fixed priority flow and the FV200 provides proportional flow division.

A proportional flow divider splits the incoming hydraulic flow into two outputs at a predetermined ratio. For example, a 50/50 divider supplies approximately half the input flow to each output. If the input flow increases or decreases, both output flows change proportionally.

A priority flow divider maintains a specified flow rate to one circuit, provided sufficient input flow is available, and directs the remaining oil to a bypass port.

The Webtec FV200 is a proportional flow divider, while the FV120 is a fixed priority flow divider.

Where the priority flow needs to be adjusted during operation, Webtec's VFD Series variable priority flow dividers provide an alternative, allowing the operator to change the regulated flow while directing excess oil to a secondary circuit or reservoir.

A pressure-compensated flow divider-combiner can help keep two hydraulic cylinders moving in close unison, even when their loads are unequal.

Without flow division, differences in cylinder loading can cause oil to favour the circuit offering less resistance, resulting in uneven movement.

The Webtec FDC60 and FDC140 Series divide the incoming flow into predetermined proportions while compensating for differences in pressure between the two circuits.

These valves are suitable for applications such as lifting platforms, tail lifts and hydraulic ramps. They are designed to maintain close synchronisation rather than guarantee perfect positional accuracy, so the valve's flow accuracy and operating conditions should be considered during system design.

Yes. A proportional hydraulic flow divider can supply two hydraulic motors with equal or predetermined proportions of the available oil flow.
For motors with the same displacement, a 50/50 flow split can help maintain similar rotational speeds, even when the mechanical loads differ.

The Webtec FV200 provides pressure-compensated proportional flow division, while the FDC60 and FDC140 can also divide flow and provide a combining function when flow direction is reversed.

If the requirement is to adjust the speed of one hydraulic motor independently while using excess flow for another function, Webtec's VFD Series variable priority flow dividers may be more appropriate.

Actual motor speeds will also depend on motor displacement and internal leakage.

Yes. Pressure-compensated flow dividers are designed to maintain their specified flow proportions when the pressures at the outlet ports are different, within their operating limits.

The Webtec FDC60, FDC140 and FV200 Series use pressure compensation to minimise the effect of varying loads on the flow distribution.

The FDC60 and FDC140 provide pressure compensation in both dividing and combining directions.

For the FDC140, a loading difference above 250 bar (3,500 psi) between the two split flows may result in reduced performance. This should be considered where there are particularly large differences in actuator loading.

The correct valve depends on whether the application requires synchronisation, proportional flow division, fixed priority flow or adjustable priority flow.

• FDC60: A bi-directional flow divider-combiner for keeping cylinders or motors in close unison, with flow capacities up to 70 L/min (18.5 US gpm).
• FDC140: A higher-flow divider-combiner for demanding applications, with flow capacities up to 140 L/min (37 US gpm) and a maximum rated pressure of 420 bar (6,000 psi).
• FV120: A fixed priority flow divider that maintains a factory-set flow to a priority circuit, with excess flow available through a bypass port.
• FV200: A proportional flow divider that divides the incoming flow into two outputs at a selected ratio, with a maximum flow capacity of 76 L/min (20 US gpm).

For applications requiring adjustable priority flow rather than a fixed setting, Webtec also offers the VFD50, VFD120 and VFD190 Series. These allow the regulated flow to be adjusted manually, with electric and remote proportional control options available in the VFD120 range.
Where both forward division and reverse combining are required, the FDC Series is the appropriate starting point for selection.

Yes. A fixed priority flow divider can provide a consistent oil supply to a power steering circuit while directing excess flow to another function.
The Webtec FV120 is designed for applications where one hydraulic circuit must receive a predetermined flow rate before the remaining oil is made available.

A common application is mobile machinery where the priority port supplies power steering and the bypass port supplies an implement or lifting circuit.

The FV120 priority flow is factory-set between 3.78 and 30.3 L/min (1 to 8 US gpm), using standard increments of approximately 3.78 L/min (1 US gpm).

The selected priority flow remains constant as long as the input flow equals or exceeds the required priority flow.

If the incoming hydraulic flow is lower than the priority flow setting, the valve cannot maintain the specified priority flow rate.

The Webtec FV120 maintains its factory-set regulated flow when the input flow equals or exceeds the priority setting. When sufficient flow is available, the remaining oil is directed through the bypass port.

For example, if a valve is set to deliver approximately 15.1 L/min (4 US gpm) to the priority circuit, the pump must supply at least that flow to maintain the selected setting.

When designing a system, it is important to consider the pump's available flow under the full range of expected operating conditions.

Yes. Hydraulic flow dividers can be specified with unequal output proportions when the two circuits require different flow rates.

The Webtec FDC60 and FDC140 are available with standard ratios from 50/50 through to 90/10. With these valves, the larger proportion is directed through port A.

The FV200 offers standard ratios of 50/50, 40/60, 30/70, 20/80 and 10/90, with the larger proportion directed through port B. Non-standard ratios are available on request.

One important restriction is that the FDC60 flow-size code 70 (55–70 L/min) will not function adequately with ratios above 70/30.

The correct ratio should be selected according to the flow requirements of each circuit.

A fixed flow divider is configured to provide a specified flow rate or flow proportion, while an adjustable flow divider allows the operator to change the regulated flow.
For example, the Webtec FV120 provides a factory-set priority flow, while the FV200 and FDC Series use selected flow-split ratios.

For applications requiring regular adjustment of hydraulic motor or cylinder speed, Webtec's VFD Series variable priority flow dividers provide an alternative.

The VFD50, VFD120 and VFD190 have manually operated adjustment dials, allowing the regulated flow to be varied to suit changing operating requirements.

For applications requiring remote control, the VFD120-E uses an electric motor drive operated through a toggle or rocker switch, while the VFD120MD provides remote proportional control.

These pressure-compensated valves allow the priority and bypass circuits to operate at differing load pressures, while maintaining the selected priority flow within their operating limits.

For more information, see Webtec's VFD Variable Priority Flow Divider FAQs.

Webtec offers several flow divider ranges to suit different hydraulic system capacities.

The FDC60 has flow-size options covering 2–70 L/min (0.5–18.5 US gpm), while the larger FDC140 covers 55–140 L/min (14.5–37 US gpm).
The FV120 has a maximum input flow capacity of 60 L/min (16 US gpm), with selectable priority flow settings from 3.78 to 30.3 L/min (1–8 US gpm).

The FV200 offers four recommended input flow ranges covering 5–76 L/min (1.3–20 US gpm).

For applications requiring variable priority flow, Webtec's VFD range offers additional capacities, including the VFD50 at up to 50 L/min (13.2 US gpm), VFD120 at up to 120 L/min (32 US gpm) and VFD190 at up to 190 L/min (50 US gpm) total input flow.

These variable priority valves are intended for adjustable flow control rather than fixed-ratio cylinder synchronisation.

The maximum rated pressure depends on the valve series.

The Webtec FDC60 is rated up to 310 bar (4,500 psi), while the FDC140 is rated to 420 bar (6,000 psi).

Both the FV120 fixed priority flow divider and the FV200 proportional flow divider have maximum rated pressures of up to 420 bar (6,000 psi).
When specifying a valve, the expected working pressure and pressure conditions across the individual circuits should be considered alongside the flow rating.

For the FDC140, particularly large loading differences between the two divided flows can affect performance, even when the valve's overall pressure rating is not exceeded.

The Webtec FDC60 has a division accuracy of ±2% of the valve's rated maximum flow, while the FDC140 has a division accuracy of ±1.5% of rated maximum flow.

These figures are based on the maximum rated flow of the selected valve, not a percentage of the actual operating flow.

For example, an FDC140 rated at 100 L/min (26.4 US gpm) with a 50/50 split has a nominal output of 50 L/min (13.2 US gpm) at each port. Its ±1.5% accuracy corresponds to a possible variation of ±1.5 L/min at each outlet, giving a maximum difference of 3 L/min between the two flows.

The same accuracy principle applies in both dividing and combining directions. Selecting the appropriate flow-size model is therefore important for applications requiring close synchronisation.

The centre condition determines which hydraulic ports are connected or blocked when the handle is in its centre position.

This affects what happens to the actuator and the rest of the hydraulic circuit when neither operating direction is selected.

Different valve models are available to provide different centre conditions. The correct model should therefore be selected by comparing the required circuit behaviour with the hydraulic symbols in the relevant datasheet rather than treating the hydraulic symbol as a separate product feature.

Yes. A flow divider-combiner is designed to operate in both directions, dividing a single incoming flow during one movement and combining two return flows during the opposite movement.

The Webtec FDC60 and FDC140 Series provide pressure compensation in both dividing and combining directions.

During cylinder extension, the valve distributes the incoming flow between two circuits at the selected ratio. When flow is reversed, such as during cylinder retraction, it maintains the ratio between the return flows and combines them into a single outlet flow.

This is an important distinction from Webtec's VFD Series variable priority flow dividers. Although certain VFD models permit reverse flow under specified conditions, they are not designed to provide the same ratio-controlled dividing and combining function as the FDC Series.

Yes. Multiple flow divider-combiner valves can be used in series to distribute oil between more than two hydraulic circuits.

The Webtec FDC60 datasheet specifically identifies series installation as a method of operating more than two circuits.

This can be useful where a machine has several hydraulic cylinders or motors that need to operate together.

If the requirement is to control the speeds of multiple hydraulic motors independently rather than maintain a fixed proportional relationship, Webtec's VFD Series provides another option.

The VFD50 datasheet includes example circuits showing how multiple variable priority flow dividers can be used to operate several hydraulic motors from a single pump, with independently adjustable motor speeds.

The correct arrangement depends on the required flow, pressure and operating characteristics of each circuit.

Hydraulic flow dividers create a pressure drop as oil passes through their internal flow-control and pressure-compensation components.

The Webtec FDC60 has a specified maximum pressure drop of 12.5 bar (180 psi) at the valve's rated maximum flow.

The higher-capacity FDC140 has a specified maximum pressure drop of 14 bar (200 psi) at rated maximum flow.

The FV120 and FV200 datasheets also provide typical pressure-drop curves to assist with system design.

Pressure drop is important because it represents energy lost as heat. Selecting a correctly sized flow divider helps the designer account for these losses and avoid unnecessary restrictions in the hydraulic circuit.

An optional built-in pressure relief valve is available on the Webtec FV120 fixed priority flow divider.

The relief valve protects the priority circuit against excessive pressure and can be adjusted between 34.5 and 210 bar (approximately 500–3,000 psi).

Unless otherwise specified, the factory relief setting is 82.7 bar (approximately 1,200 psi).

The FV120 installation drawing also identifies a separate relief valve drain port, which must be considered when connecting the valve into the hydraulic circuit.

The relief function is intended to protect the priority circuit and should not be assumed to provide overpressure protection for the entire hydraulic system.

Fluid compatibility and temperature limits depend on the valve series.

The Webtec FDC60 is designed for mineral hydraulic oils to ISO 11158, while the FDC140 datasheet specifies mineral and synthetic oils. The FV120 and FV200 are also specified for mineral oils to ISO 11158. Other fluids should be discussed with Webtec.

The FDC60 and FDC140 have fluid and ambient temperature ranges of -30 to 100 °C (-22 to 212 °F).
The FV120 and FV200 have a wider fluid temperature range of -30 to 120 °C (-22 to 248 °F), with an ambient temperature range of -30 to 50 °C (-22 to 122 °F).

The FDC60 also features a cast-iron construction without aluminium, which the datasheet identifies as suitable for mining applications.

Correct valve selection, port connections, mounting and fluid cleanliness are important for reliable operation.

The Webtec FDC60 offers BSPP, SAE, metric and NPTF porting options, while the FDC140 has standard BSPP and SAE connections, with other threads available to special order. The FV120 offers BSPP and SAE porting, while the FV200 offers BSPP and UN-thread connections.

The FDC60 and FDC140 use three-hole mounting arrangements. The FV120 and FV200 use two-bolt mounting arrangements.

For contamination control, the FDC60 specifies oil cleanliness better than ISO 4406 class 20/18/15. The FDC140 specifies a minimum cleanliness requirement of ISO 4406 class 20/18/15.

The FV120 and FV200 datasheets do not provide a specific numerical cleanliness requirement.

Always confirm the port identification, selected flow range and hydraulic circuit arrangement before installation.