1.
Cv and Kv definition
What is the flow coefficient Cv and Kv - calculation of
flow through a valve - SI units
The flow through a valve can be calculated thanks to the pressure drop through the
valve and a coefficient Kv which represents the number of m3/h of water that goes
through the valve at 15c and with a pressure drop of 1 bar.
Manufacturers may specified the coefficient Cv instead of Kv for their valve. Cv is the
number of US gallons that goes through the valve at 60F and with a pressure drop
of 1 psi. It is actually possible to convert Kv and Cv and have the expression in the right
unit for the calculation of interest. Cv=1.156Kv
2. Calculation of Cv and flow through a
valve - Case of liquids - SI units
What is the flow of liquid through a valve?
2.1 Subcritical or critical flow?
In order to calculate the flow of liquid through a valve thanks to the Cv, the Engineer
must 1st determine if the flow is subcritical or critical (cavitation / flashing). To do so, it is
necessary to compare the pressure drop to some limit values.
If ΔP < FL2(ΔPs) : the flow is subcritical
If ΔP > FL2(ΔPs) : the flow is critical
With
ΔP=Pressure drop accross the valve (bar abs)
FL = liquid pressure recovery factor = [(P1-P2)/(P1-PVC)]
P1 = upstream pressure (bar abs)
P2 = downstream pressure (bar abs)
PVC = pressure at the vena contracta of the valve (bar abs)
ΔPs = critical pressure drop = P1 - (0.96-0.28*√(Pv/Pc))*Pv
Pv = vapor pressure of the liquid at the temperature of the flow (bar abs)
Pc = pressure at thermodynamic critical point (bar abs)
The liquid pressure recovery factor is given by the valve manufacturer
ΔPs can be approximated as ΔPs=P1-Pv if Pv < 0.5*P1
The relations given below are valid only for a Newtonian liquid in turbulent flow.
2.2 Subcritical flow
The volumetric flow of liquid through a valve can be calculated by Qv = Kv.√(ΔP/d) or
Qv=Cv/1.156.√(ΔP/d) for subcritical flow.
With
Qv=Flow rate (m3/h)
Cv=valve flow coefficient (GPM)
Kv=valve flow coefficient (m3/h)
ΔP=Pressure drop across the valve (bar)
d15t=density of the liquid referred to water at 15 degrees (-) - as the density of water at
this temperature is 999.13 kg/m3, d15t can be approximated as ρ/1000
ρ = density of the liquid at the temperature of flow (kg/m 3)
The mass flow rate through the valve can be calculated thanks to the following formula
Cv=1.156*m/√(ΔP*d) ⇒ m=(Cv/1.156)*√(ΔP*d) :
With
m=Flow rate (t/h)
Cv=valve flow coefficient (GPM)
ΔP=Pressure drop accross the valve (bar)
d15t=density of the liquid referred to water at 15 degrees (-) - as the density of water at
this temperature is 999.13 kg/m3, d15t can be approximated as ρ/1000
ρ = density of the liquid at the temperature of flow (kg/m 3)
2.3 Critical flow
For critical flow, the following formula can be used to calculate the volumetric
flow through a valve of coefficient Cv : Qv=FL*Cv/1.156.√(ΔPs/d)
Qv=Flow rate (m3/h)
FL = critical flow factor
Cv=valve flow coefficient (GPM)
ΔPs=as defined above at paragraph 2.1
d15t=density of the liquid referred to water at 15 degrees (-) - as the density of water at
this temperature is 999.13 kg/m3, d15t can be approximated as ρ/1000
ρ = density of the liquid at the temperature of flow (kg/m 3)
For calculating the mass flow, the following formula can be used :
With :
m=Flow rate (t/h)
FL = critical flow factor
Cv=valve flow coefficient (GPM)
ΔPs=as defined above at paragraph 2.1
d15t=density of the liquid referred to water at 15 degrees (-) - as the density of water at
this temperature is 999.13 kg/m3, d15t can be approximated as ρ/1000
ρ = density of the liquid at the temperature of flow (kg/m 3)
Calculation example of the flow through a valve of
coefficient Cv
A control valve has a Cv of 5. The instrumentation on the line show that the pressure
drop through the valve is 0.1 bar ? What is the flow through the valve. It is water at 50°c.
The density of water at 15°c is 999.13 kg/m3
The density of water at 50°c is 988.07 kg/m3
The density of water at 50°c compared to water at 15°c is : 988.07/999.13 = 0.9889
The flowrate is Qv=Cv/1.156.√(ΔP/d) = 5/1.156*√(0.5/0.9889) = 3.07 m 3/h
Note : the reverse calculation can be done when knowing a flow, a pressure and wanting
to calculate the Cv.
3. Calculation of Cv and flow through a
valve - Case of gases - SI units
What is the flow of gases through a valve ?
The volumetric flow rate of gas through a valve can be calculated from the valve Cv
thanks to the following formula :
With
Qv=Flow rate (m3/h) at 15c and 101325 Pa abs
FL = critical flow factor
Cv=valve flow coefficient (GPM)
P1 = upstream pressure (bar abs)
d = gas specific gravity vs air (dair = 1) = M/29
M = molar mass of the gas (g/mol)
T = temparature (K)
Z = compressibility factor (-)
y = (1.63/FL)*√(ΔP/P1)
If y < 1.5, subcritical flow
if y > 1.5, then y is capped at y = ymax =1.5 for critical flow
The mass flowrate through the valve can be calculated thanks to the following formula :
With
m=Flow rate (t/h)
FL = critical flow factor
Cv=valve flow coefficient (GPM)
P1 = upstream pressure (bar abs)
d = gas specific gravity vs air (dair = 1) = M/29
M = molar mass of the gas (g/mol)
T = temparature (K)
Z = compressibility factor (-)
y = (1.63/FL)*√(ΔP/P1)
If y < 1.5, subcritical flow
if y > 1.5, then y is capped at y = ymax =1.5 for critical flow
4. Control valve sizing
What are the best practices to size control valves ?
In order to have a good control, the design of the control valve should be such that it
represents around 1/3 of the total pressure drop of the line. The valve must also be
designed to work at flows corresponding to 50 to 80 percent of the Cv of the valve.
5. Corrections of Cv for special cases
5.1 Effect of pipe reducers
The formula given above are valid when the valve diameter is equal to the pipe
diameter. However, it sometimes happens that the valve is mounted in between pipe
reducers which has as an effect to reduce the capacity of the valve. To account for this
effect, a coefficient Fp, the piping geometry factor is calculated. The actual Cv is then :
Cv_corrected = Cv / Fp
Fp = [(Cv2*ΣK)/(0.00214*d4)+1]-0.5
With
Cv_corrected = actual Cv of the valve in between pipe reducers
Cv = calculated Cv without pipe reducers
Fp = pipe geometry factor
d = valve diameter (mm)
ΣK = K1 + K2 + KB1 - KB2
K1 = loss coefficient at inlet = 0.5*[1-(d/D1)2]2
K2 = loss coefficient at outlet = [1-(d/D2)2]2
KB1 = Bernoulli coefficient = 1-(d/D1)4
KB2 = Bernoulli coefficient = 1-(d/D2)4
D1 = inside diameter of upstream pipe (mm)
D2 = inside diameter of downstream pipe (mm)
5.2 Effect of viscosity
According to [Baumann], the correction of the valve Cv due to viscosity is to be applied
only if the fluid has a viscosity > 40 centistokes. The correction procedure requires the
calculation of a correction factor FR which will be used in a similar way as the coefficient
Fp for pipe geometry.
5.3 Laminar flow
The case of laminar flow is according to Baumann calculated the same way as a
correction of viscosity, which appears logic as a higher viscosity will often lead to laminar
flow.
6. Calculation of flow through a valve - US
units
The relations above, in US units, are expressed the following ways to calculate valves of
Cv in liquid and gas applications
With P and ΔP in Psi abs, Qvin GPM, Cvin GPM, m in lb/h, d is specific gravity ( water = 1
at 60 F), T flowing temperature in R
Source
Masoneilan Control Valve Sizing Handbook, 2000
