3.

0 Control Valves
The most common method for influencing the behavior of chemical processes is through the flow rate of process
streams. Usually, a variable resistance in the closed conduit or pipe is manipulated to influence the flow rate and
achieve the desired process behavior. A valve with a variable opening for flow is the standard equipment used to
introduce this variable resistance; the valve is selected because it is simple, reliable, relatively low cost and available
for a wide range of process applications. In some cases the valve resistance is set by a person adjusting the opening,
like a home faucet. In many cases the valve resistance is determined by an automatic controller, with the valve
designed to accept and implement the signal sent from the controller. These are control valves. A multitude of
commercial control valves are available; so the goal of this section is to describe the key features of common valves
and provide guidance on proper selection and sizing.
The principles of flow control through a restriction in a pipe are presented in textbooks on fluid mechanics (e.g., Janna,
1993) and are briefly summarized here with reference to the example system in Figure 7 taken from Marlin (2000).
Naturally, the total pressure drop along the pipe after the valve is the sum of the individual pressure drops, as given in
the following equation.
Total pressure drop
relationship for
pressure
downstream of the
valve
(7)
As we know the resistance to fluid flow increases as the flow rate increases. Also, the source of the high pressure, here
a pump, may be influenced by the flow rate; in this case, the pump head decreases as the flow increases. The
relationship between the pressures at the inlet and exit of the valve are shown in Figure 7, and the required pressure
drop across the valve is shown as DP
v
. Therefore, any desired flow from 0 to 110% of the design valve can be
achieved by adjusting the valve opening to provide the required resistance to flow, DP
v
. For the example in Figure 7,
when the flow is 80% of design, the valve pressure drop is about 40 psi, which can be achieved by adjusting the valve
opening for flow to the proper value.
3.0 Control Valves http://www.pc-education.mcmaster.ca/Instrumentation/controlvalve.htm
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Note that energy is required to raise the stream pressure to P
1
is "lost energy". Therefore, efficient design minimizes
the valve pressure drop while providing sufficient variable resistance for good flow regulation. Theoretically, a control
valve would not be needed if the supply pressure, in Figure 7 this is P
1
, could be varied. Variable speed electrical
motors to drive pumps are available for liquid systems, but the added cost and lower efficiencies of these pumps has
resulted in the control valve remaining the standard choice for regulating liquid flow (Bauman, 1981). Variable speed
steam turbines to drive compressors are commonly applied for gas systems; thus, two methods for adjusting flow in gas
systems are common in the process industries: these are:
manipulating the supply pressure (by the speed of the compressor or pump) and 1.
manipulating the variable flow resistance (by a control valve). 2.
We will concentrate on control valves, which are the overwhelming choice for flow control in the process industries.

To see a typical control valve, select this button to be directed to a site
on the WWW.
Select this button to be directed to a site on the WWW for an
interesting industrial perspective on the importance of valves in process
performance
To read a short introduction to control valves, including discussions of
rotary and linear valves, select this button to be directed to a site on
the WWW.
To access a complete section on valve terminology, select this button to
be directed to a site on the WWW.
3.0 Control Valves http://www.pc-education.mcmaster.ca/Instrumentation/controlvalve.htm
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3.0 Control Valves http://www.pc-education.mcmaster.ca/Instrumentation/controlvalve.htm
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