A pressure reducing valve is set at 500 psi. What happens to the pressure at the valve outlet when the cylinder reaches the end of its stroke?

When a pressure reducing valve is set at a specific pressure, in this case, 500 psi, it is designed to maintain a constant pressure at the outlet despite changes in upstream pressure or downstream demand, as long as the conditions are within its operational limits. When the cylinder reaches the end of its stroke, the pressure at the outlet should remain stable at the set point of 500 psi. This stability is crucial for ensuring that the system downstream of the valve operates correctly without being subjected to fluctuations in pressure that could cause operational issues or component damage.

The pressure reducing valve continually adjusts to maintain this outlet pressure; hence, when the cylinder completes its stroke and the demand or flow may fluctuate briefly, the valve compensates to keep the outlet pressure steady. It does not allow for an increase or a decrease in pressure below the set point unless the valve fails or if the upstream supply pressure falls below the required level to maintain that outlet setting.

Therefore, the correct answer is that the pressure at the valve outlet remains the same at 500 psi when the cylinder reaches the end of its stroke.