RESULT & DISCUSSION

In this laboratory session, three experiments were conducted to determine the

characteristics curve of linear control valve, equal percentage control valve and quick opening
valve. For each set of the experiments, they are performed under constant differential pressure of
1psig and by setting the valve opening to 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Subsequently, the
flowrates for each valve opening are being observed and recorded once it achieved steady state.
The flowrate percentage can be calculated from the data collected and substitute into the
following equation:

Table: Flow percentage of all control valves

Flowrate (%)
Stroke
Equal
Percentage (%) Linear Quick Opening
Percentage
0 0 0 0
25 26.06 5.52 69.6
50 55.26 16.71 99.43
75 81.4 58.92 105.11
100 100 100 100
 Graph of Flow % vs Stroke %
120
100
Flow Percentage (%) 80
60
40
20
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Stroke Percentage (%)

Linear Equal Percentage Quick Opening

Figure: Flow Percentage against Graph of Stroke Percentage

For the first experiment with linear control valve, the data plotted shows a linear line in
the graph, which implies a directly proportional relationship between valve travel and the
flowrate capacity at a constant differential pressure. This result has been achieved due to a linear
relationship between the valve lift and the orifice pass area (spirazsarco, 2020). The linear
control valve is preferable compare to equal percentage control valve in a system such as liquid
level and flow control loops, where the pressure drop across the valve is supposed to remain
constant in the system.

From the observation of the experiment we can conclude that there are several factor that
may contribute in the inaccuracy of the data recorded. First, the low sensitivity of the knob of the
potentiometer, which makes it difficult to adjust to the accurate stroke percentage value required.
Potentiometer with higher sensitivity should be used to ensure accurate stroke percentage
reading.

For a Quick Opening Control Valve, as shown, it can be observed that there is a large
increase in flow rate at small opening of the valve. For an instance, at stroke percentage
of 25%, the recorded flowrate percentage increases significantly and reaches around 70%.
Conversely, the gain of the valve is higher at smaller stroke percentages and decreases
steadily as the stroke opening increases. Therefore, the large stroke openings will aloe
smaller changes in flow rates of water to pass through the valve. This is proven because at low
stroke percentage, range between 0-25% opening, the slope of the linear region is steeper
which means producing a higher initial gain and lower potential stability (Borden, 1998).
Based on Figure, the recorded flowrate percentage is close to be a constant once the stroke
percentage reaches around 50%.

For the last characteristic, which is quick opening control valve, the graph gives a fast
opening curve where the curve plotted is nearly linear from 0% to 30% stroke opening then starts
to be virtually constant. It is observed in the Figure, when the stroke percentage is 20%, the flow
rate percentage is already 60% which illustrates that quick opening valve provides large changes
in flow for very small changes in opening. Therefore, this type of characteristic is limiting the
quick opening valve to on-off service such as sequential operation in either batch or semi-
continuous processes (The engineering toolbox, 2003)

The curves of flow rate percentage for three types of control valve all show increasing
trends along with stroke opening percentage according to the graph shown in Figure above. The
flow rate percentage increases when the stroke percentage of the valve increases as they are
proportional to each other. In this context, stroke percentage defines the opening of the control
valve. When the stroke percentage increases, the valve opening increases too, thus it contributes
to a higher flow rate of water passing through the valve. However, each of the flow rate
percentage curves portrays a different shape (trends) when compared to one another. This
happens as each control valve has different gain characteristics.
APPENDIX

0
Linear, 0% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=0.0 %
37.1
20.5
Linear, 50% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=55.26 %
37.1
30.2
Linear, 75% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=81.4 %
37.1
37.1
Linear, 100% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=100.0 %
37.1
0
Equal Percentage, 0% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=0.0 %
35,3
1.95
Equal Percentage, 25% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=5.52 %
35,3
5.9
Equal Percentage, 50% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=16.71 %
35,3
20.8
Equal Percentage, 75% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=58.92 %
35,3
35.3
Equal Percentage, 100% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=100.0 %
35,3
0
Quick Opening, 0% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=0.0 %
35,2
24.5
Quick Opening, 25% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=69.6 %
35,2
35
Quick Opening, 50% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=99.43 %
35,2
37
Quick Opening, 75% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=105.11 %
35,2
35.2
Quick Opening, 100% stroke percentage: ∗100 %=100.0 %
35,2
 Table:Flowrate of all control valve

Stroke Flowrate (L/min)

Percentag
e (%) Linear Equal Percentage Quick Opening

0 0 0 0

25 9.67 1.95 24.5

50 20.5 5.9 35

75 30.2 20.8 37

100 37.1 35.3 35.2

Graph of Flowrate vs Stroke %

40
35
30
Flowrate (L/min)

25
20
15
10
5
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Stroke Percentage (%)

Linear Equal Percentage Quick Opening

Figure: Graph of Flowrate against Stroke Percentage

References

1. The engineering toolbox. (2003). Retrieved from control valve and flow characteristics:
https://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/control-valves-flow-characteristics-d_485.html

2. Spirazsarco. (2020). Retrieved from control hardware: https://www.spiraxsarco.com/learn-

about-steam/control-hardware-electric-pneumatic-actuation/control-valve-characteristics

3. Borden, G. (1998). Control Valves. Instrument Society of America.