Reciprocating Expander Valve

A pressure balanced valve for an expander of a Rankine cycle heat recovery system includes a valve body that extends along a longitudinal axis. The valve body includes a valve head and an intermediate flange structure spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis. The valve body defines an internal flow channel having at least one output port and at least one inlet port. At least one output port of the internal flow channel is defined by a cylinder chamber side of the valve head. At least one inlet port of the internal flow channel is defined by a valve stem of the intermediate flange structure. The internal flow channel is operable to communicate fluid pressure between the cylinder chamber side of the valve head and the valve stem side of the intermediate flange structure.