Creating Installed

Gain Graphs for

Department Editor: Scott Jenkins Control Valves

I
nstalled gain graphs can help improve the selection of control valves by using the equations in the ISA/IEC valve sizing standard (ANSI/
for chemical processing. The graphs are plotted to analyze together ISA-75.01.01).
control-valve flow characteristics and process-system flow character-
istics, and better illustrate the relationship between a control valve and Step 4: Express the flowrate in terms of
the system. Predicting installed gain can help to increase controllability percent process variable (%PV)
of the system and help avoid oversized valves. Installed gain graphs Use the range of the process-variable measurement device and its rela-
can reveal ranges of valve travel where the valve gain might impede tionship to flowrate to determine the %PV for the installed characteristic
controllability. They can also show the travels for which the control valve graph points. For example, if the process variable is flowrate, divide
will perform optimally. each flowrate on the curve by the full span of the flowmeter.

GENERATING AN INSTALLED GAIN GRAPH 2.2

Installed gain

2.0
Step 1: Determine the control valve’s inherent flow characteristic
1.8 Maximum
a) Inherent flow characteristic describes how the capacity of a control 1.6
gain
valve changes with valve travel. 1.4
b) The inherent flow characteristic plot has the same shape as valve

Gain
1.2 Minimum
gain
flow coefficient (CV) curve. Common curve shapes are: 1.0
Linear — Slope changes little over the normal working range of the valve 0.8
Quick-opening — Slope changes faster over first 25% of valve travel 0.6
and slower at high travels 0.4
Equal percentage — Slope 0.2
0
changes more slowly at 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent of rated flow coefficient

low travels and faster at Valve travel, %

g
in

high travels
en
op

c) Plot CV versus valve travel. Step 5: Develop installed gain graph

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Find the slope of the installed flow characteristic graph at each valve
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Step 2: Determine sys- travel. The plot of Δ%PV / Δ%travel for each percent travel increment is
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tem characteristic curve the installed gain graph.

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ag
nt

The system curve defines

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piping head and friction Step 6: Interpret results

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losses. Plot flowrate vs. The installed gain graph can aid in the analysis of whether the control
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Eq

pressure. Assuming the
control valve is not un-
dersized, it will have one
position that can fulfill both
the flowrate and pressure conditions required by the system.
225
200
175
Pressure, psia
valve inherent characteristic is suitable for the system. An installed gain
0
0 100 equal to one for the entire valve travel would indicate that the other
Percent of rated travel components of the control system would not have to compensate for the
installed valve gain (that is, the control system tuning parameters used at
one value of valve travel would allow equally acceptable controllability
at other travels).
System pressure characteristic It is more than likely the installed gain will not equal one across the
full valve travel. Guidelines for desirable installed gain values have
been established. In most cases, installed gain values of between 0.5
Maximum
and 2.0 should be the target.
Normal If the installed gain falls outside this range for valve travels that are

Minimum expected to be used for controlling the process, the controllability will
150
not be optimal. For example, controller tuning setpoints that function
125 P1 for valve well at low valve travel values might cause system instability if used at
travels with a high installed gain.
P2 for valve
100

75 DEFINITIONS
100 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000
Flow, gal/min Valve gain — The change in flow for a given change in travel
Valve travel — The degree of openness of the valve; the valve stroke
Step 3: Determine installed flow characteristic graph Control range — The control range of an installed valve is the range of
a) Pressure conditions across a control valve are not constant. Values of travels for which the installed gain remains within the recommended 0.5
the liquid-pressure recovery factor and the pressure-drop ratio factor for to 2.0 range
control valves vary with valve travel. CV — The valve flow coefficient of a device (such as a valve) represents
b) For several values of valve travel, determine where on the system a relative measure of its efficiency at allowing fluid flow. It involves the
curve (flow versus pressure) the process will be operated and what the relationship between the pressure drop across a valve system and the
flowrate would be. The location on the system curve can be determined corresponding flowrate
Inherent flow characteristic — The relationship between control valve
Installed flow characteristic capacity and valve stem travel
3,000
Installed flow characteristic — Actual system flow plotted against valve
2,500 Maximum opening. Pressure drops vary with valve travel when valves are installed
with pumps, piping, fittings and other process equipment
2,000 Normal
Flow, gal/min

Minimum
1,500
References
1. Niesen, M., Using installed gain to improve valve selection. Chem. Eng.
1,000 October 2008, pp. 34–37.
500 2. Fitzgerald, B. and Linden, C., The control valve’s hidden impact on the
bottom line. Valve Manufacturer’s Association, Washington, D.C., 2003.
0 3. “Perry’s Chemical Engineer’s Handbook,” 8th ed., McGraw Hill, N.Y.,
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Valve travel, % 2008.