Here's how valve self-regulation works in a nutshell.
1. The kinetic energy delivered to the pellet is (roughly) proportional to the air released by the valve when the hammer (striker) hits it. More air = more energy, less air = less energy.
2. The total air expended is (roughly) proportional to how fast the air flows while the valve is opened, multiplied by how long the hammer holds it open. The second part of that sentence is true because the valve in a normal PCP is open for only a small fraction of the time the pellet takes to move the length of the barrel.
3. High pressure makes the air flow fast, because theres more force pushing it past the valve stem.
4. Low pressure allows the valve to stay open longer, because there's less force acting the valve stem to push the hammer away and re-close it.
5. The competition between factoid #3 vs factoid #4 is the entire principle for self-regulation - give or take a few complicating factors.
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