spirax International site for Spirax Sarco Tot: (600) 675.0384
sarco Fax: (803) 714-2222
InsideSalesLeads @Spiraxcom
tito:twww SoiraxSarco.com/us!
You are he
Home b Resources P Steam Engineering Tutorials
Control Hardware: Becti(Pneumatc Actuation be Control Valve Characteristics
Control Hardware:
Electric Preumatic Control Valve Characteristics
ctuation
Various types of flow characteristics are available. The printable version of this page has
This tutorial discusses the three main types usedin now been replaced by
water and steam flow applications: fast opening, Tho Steam and Condensate Loop Book
ya ao sa foes ca
iow an coca, ew eg vi compl caleton of St
‘matched tothe application in which they are used, __Enaiineerina Tutorials
wrolVah Sk
Use the quick inks below to take you to the main Contact Us
sections of this tutors
“ Flow characteristics
‘Al control valves have an inherent flow characteristic that defines the relationship between ‘valve opening’
‘and flowrate under constant pressure conditions. Please note that Valve opening’ in this contex¢ refers tothe
relative position of the valve plug to its closed position against the valve seat. I does not refer to the orifice
Related Content ‘pass area. The orifice pass arca is sometimes called the Valve throat and is the narrowest point between
the valve plug and seat through which the fuid passes at any time. For any valve, however it is
‘Control Valve Sizing
characterised, the relationship between flowrate and orifice pass area is always directly proportional
Use the cakulator to size
your contral valves. Valves of any size or inherent low characteristic which are subjected to the same volumettic flowrate and
diferential pressure will have exactly the same orice pass area. However, different valve characteristics will
give different ‘valve openings’ for the same pass area. Comparing linear and equal percentage valves, a
linear valve might have a 25% valve opening for a certain pressure drop ang flowrate, whilst an equal
percentage valve might have a 65% valve opening for exacty the same conditons. The orifice pass areas
Feature willbe the same,
‘The Steam and
Condensate Loop Book The physical shape of te plug and seat arrangement, sometimes referred to as the valve ‘rim’, causes the
difference in valve opening between these valves. Typical rim shapes for spindle operated glove valves are
a compared in Figure 6.5.1.
‘ \ Spindle
— movement
=~
comprehensive best Oiifice Oiiice
fracice geo sho ms pats
trong od opting wane = ee Vale set
fia performance,
ookeovers al aspects of L™~
Stoomand connate |
Syatene
ia 7
Order your copy today. flow
Fast opening Linear Equal porcentage
Fig. 6.5.1 The shape of the trim determines the valve characteristic
In this Tutorial, the term Valve lit’ is used to define valve opening, whether the valve is a globe valve (up and
down movement ofthe plug relative tothe seat) ora rotary vale (lateral movement ofthe plug relative fo the
seat),
Rtot ¢ Ibi dba) bho bin tig brki mataof the ball or butterfly plug may modify this. The inherent flow characteristics of typical globe valves and
rotary valves are compared in Figure 6.5.2
Globe valves maybe fited with plugs of difering shapes, each of which has its own inherent fowlopening
characteriste. The three main pes available are usualy designated:
1 Fast opening
Linear.
1m Equal percentage,
Examples of these and their innerentcharactoristcs are shown in Figures 6.5.1 and 6.5.2
100%
50%
0% 50% 100%
Fig. 6.5.2 Inherent flow characteristics of typical globe valves and rotary valves
Fast opening characteristic
‘The fast opening characteristic valve plug will give a large change in flowrate for a small vale lif from the
closed position. For example, a vale lit of 50% may resultin an orifice pass area and flowrate up to 80% of
its maximum potential.
Avalve using this type of plug is sometimes referred to as having an ‘on /off characteristic.
Unlike linear and equal percentage characteristics, the exact shape ofthe fast opening cune is not defined
in standards, Therefore, two valves, one giving a 80% flow for 50% lif, the other 90% flow for 60% lit, may
both be regarded as having a fast opening characteristic
Fast opening valves tend to be electrically or pneumatically actuated and used for‘on / off contro
The selFactng pe of control valve tends to have a plug shape similar to the fast opening plug in Figure
6.5.1. The plug position responds to changes in liquid or vapour pressure in the conifol system. The
movement of this type of valve plug can be extremely small relaive to small changes in the contolled
Condition, and consequently the valve has an inherently high rangeabilty. The valve plug is therefore able to
reproduce small changes in flowrate, and should not be regarded as a fast opening control valve
Linear characteristic
‘The linear characteristic valve plug is shaped so thatthe flowrate is directly proportional tothe valve lt (H),
ata constant differential pressure. A linear valve achieves this by having a linear relationship between the
valve litand the orifce pass area (see Figure 6.5.3).$ |
§ Se
iG.
Be.
. |
t
6 16s 71»
Vave it (0 = coed, 1 = fit ope)
ig. 6 5:3 Flow /lift curve for a linear valve
For example, at 40% valve it, a 40% orifice size allows 40% of he fll low to pass.
Equal percentage characteristic (or logarithmic characteristic)
These valves have a valve plug shaped so that each increment in valve lit increases the flowrate by a
certain percentage of the previous flow. The relationship between valve lift and orice size (and therefore
flowrate) s not linear but logarithmic, and is expressed mathematicallyin Equation 8.5.1
yay,
r
Equation 6.5.1
Where:
YF = Votumetie ow trough the valve att H
x _=(Ins)H Note: "rs a mathematal funcion krown as ‘natural lgarith’
_ Valve rangeabiliy (ratio of the maximum to minimum controllable fowrae,ypically 0 fora globe
‘ype contol aie}
H = Valve lift (0 = closed, 1 = fullyopen)
= Maximum wlumetic ow trough the vale
Example 65.1.
‘The maximum flowrate trough a contol vale with an equal percentage characteristic is 10 mih the vale
has a tmdown of 0:1, and ls subjecled loa constant ciferental pressure, by using Equation 8.1 what
duantiy wil pass through the valve with its of 40% 80%, and 60% respectively?
Whore
Vmax = Maximum volumetric flow through the valve = 10 m/h_
HW = Vai Ii (@ closed to 1 flyopen) = 04 08,08
f= Vahe rangeasiiy= 50
Vee
r
Equation 6.5.1