Control valve characteristic

• The Cv coefficient (flow coefficient) of a control valve depends

on the valve position.

• Varies from zero (when the valve is closed, vp=0) to a

maximum value, Cv,max (when the valve is fully opened)

• The variation in the Cv allows the valve to continuously

regulate the flow

• The particular function relating the Cv coefficient to the valve

position is known as inherent valve characteristics.

• 3 common valve characteristics: quick-opening, linear, equal

percentage.
 Selection Criteria
Valve characteristics: Linear, equal percentage and quick opening.
What make a control valve becomes linear, equal
percentage or quick opening control valve?

The amount of flow produced with

respect to steady increment in
stem travel.
• Quick opening
– not suitable for regulating flow because most of the variation
in the valve coefficient takes place in the lower third of the
valve level
– very little variation in coefficient takes place for most of the
valve travel
– appropriate for relief valves and for on-off control system
• Two chacteristics normally used to regulate flow are :
linear and equal percentage

• linear
– The function for linear characteristics
Cv (vp)=Cv,max vp
- Produce a coefficient proportional to the valve opening
- Used when the process is linear and the pressure drop
across the valve do not vary with flow
- 50% valve position = 50% Cv of its maximum coefficient
• equal percentage
– The function for equal percentagecharacteristics
Cv (vp)=Cv,max αvp-1 α = rangeability parameter having a
value of 50 or 100
50 is most common
- Produce a exponential function to the valve opening
result in equal relative / percentage increments
- Used when the pressure drop across the valve do not vary
with flow, and with process which the gain decreases
when the flow through the valve increases.
- Exponential function has a property that equal increments
in valve position result in equal relative or percentage
increments in the valve coefficient
- When increasing the valve position by 1% the flow
increases by 1% of its value at the past valve position.
 Question
Valve characteristics: Linear, equal percentage and quick opening.

What will be the flowrate when the Example

indicator shows 0.75? 8 gpm

Quick opening
Flow coef. =
6 gpm
Flowrate =

Linear
Flow coef. = 4 gpm
Flowrate =

Equal percentage 2 gpm

Flow coef. =
Flowrate =
0 gpm
• Valve rangeability
– Also called turn down ratio
– Ratio of the maximum controllable flow to the
minimum controllable flow.
– Measure of the width of operating flows the valve
can control
– Common way to define the maximum and
minimum flow at 95 and 5% valve position
• If the pressure drop across the valve is independent
of flow, the flow through the valve is proportional to
its Cv coefficient. We can calculate the valve
rangeability from its inherent characteristics.
• linear characteristic Cv (vp)=Cv,max vp

– Rangeability = 0.95/0.05 = 19
• Equal percentage characteristic
– Rangeability =α-0.05 / α-0.95 = α 0.9
• α = 50 , rangeability =33.8 Cv (vp)=Cv,max αvp-1
• α = 100 , rangeability =63.1

• Quick opening characteristic

– Rangeability = 3 (small range)
 Installed valve characteristic
• When the pressure drop in the line and equipment in series
with a valve is significant compared with pressure drop across
the valve, the valve pressure drop varies with the flow
through the line.

• Variation of flow with valve position to be different from the

variation of the Cv coefficient.

• Installed flow characteristics of the valve are different from

the inherent Cv characteristic.
▪There is total pressure drop , Δ po that is independent of
flow

▪Total pressure differential available across the valve plus

the line and equipment
 So, frictional pressure drop ∆𝑝𝐿 , ∆𝒑𝑳 = 𝒌𝑳 𝑮𝒇 𝒇𝟐
∆𝑝𝐿 = frictional pressure drop across the line, fittings, equipment,
etc. in series with the control valve, psi
𝑘𝐿 = constant friction coefficient for line , fittings, equipment,
etc. , psi/(gpm)2
𝐺𝑓 = specific gravity of the liquid (water = 1)
𝑓 = flow through the valve and line, gpm

𝒇𝟐
So, ∆𝒑𝒗 = 𝑮𝒇 𝟐
𝑪𝒗

The total pressure drop is the sum of the two

1 2
∆𝑝𝑜 = ∆𝑝𝑣 + ∆𝑝𝐿 = 2 + 𝑘𝐿 𝐺𝑓 𝑓
𝐶𝑣
• Flow

kL= constant friction coefficient for the line, fitting, equipment psi/(gpm)2

• Maximum flow

• Rangeability
Exercise 4.3
A control valve with linear characteristic is used to regulate
the flow of steam. The nominal flow of the steam is
180,000 scfh. The valve condition are 100 psig and 60oF,
and the outlet pressure is 80 psig. Steam MW= 18 and
Cf=0.8. (Use Masoneilan’s valve table)

1) Size the control valve for 100% overcapacity.

2) Calculate valve rangeability