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 The printable version of this page has This tutorial discusses the three main types usedin now been replaced by water and steam flow applications: fast opening, Tho Steam and Condensate Loop Book ya ao sa foes ca iow an coca, ew eg vi compl caleton of St ‘matched tothe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 mataof 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