CONTROL VALVE

SIZING

Amarnath R Yadav (6546)

Arpan K Trivedi (6541)
 Definition
Cv is defined as one U.S. gallon at 60 F water that flows
through a valve, during 1 min , with 1 psi pressure drop.

Cv = flow specific gravity/pressure drop

In SI systems,
The valve coefficient is called Kv and it is defined as the
flow of cold water in cubic meter per hour, when the
pressure drop across the valve is one bar.
The conversion between Cv and Kv is

Kv = 1.17Cv
 Importance of Sizing
When selecting a valve for a particular application, the
valve coefficient is used to determine the valve size that
will best allow the valve to pass the required flow rate,
while providing stable control.
 Importance of Sizing
If valve is undersized
Processsystem can be starved for fluid.
High pressure drop across valve, leading to cavitation.

High backpressure before the valve can lead to

damage of upstream pumps.
If valve is oversized
Disadvantages of cost, size and weight of larger valve.
Can lead to accurate control problems.

High pressure drop across valve, leading to cavitation.

 Sizing Nomenclature
Vapour Pressure
Critical Pressure
Cavitation
Flashing
Chocked Flow
Liquid Critical Pressure Recovery Factor(Fl)
Piping Geometry Factor (Fp)
Reynolds Number factor(Fr)
Liquid Pressure Ratio Factor(Ff)
 Vapour Pressure
A fluid's vapor pressure is the pressure where the fluid
will change from a liquid to a vapor.
According to ISA-75.01.01-2007 Absolute Vapour
Pressure is denoted by Vp
The liquid will change to a vapor below the vapor
pressure and a vapor will change to a liquid above the
vapor pressure.
The vapor pressure increases as the temperature
increases.
 Cavitation and Flashing
Cavitation is a two stage phenomena with liquid flow.
The first stage is the formation of vapor bubbles in the
liquid as the fluid passes through the trim and the
pressure is reduced below the fluid's vapor pressure.
The second stage is the collapse of the vapor bubbles
as the fluid passes the vena contracta and the pressure
recovers and increases above the vapor pressure.
 Cavitation and Flashing
If the pressure at vena contracta drops below the
vapour pressure of the fluid, bubbles will form in
the stream. At this stage there doesnt exist any
difference between Flashing and Cavitation.
If pressure at the outlet of the valve remains below
the vapour pressure of the liquid,the bubbles will
remain in downstream and the process is said to be
flashed.
 Cavitation and Flashing
But, if downstream pressure recovery is sufficient to
raise the outlet pressure above the vapour pressure
of the liquid, the bubble will implode, causing
cavitation.
Bubble collapse will releases energy, which
gradually erodes the material.
 Cavitation and Flashing

Inlet Pressure

Outlet Pressure

Vapour Pressure
Cavitation
Flashing
Bubbles
Pressure at vena contracta
 Chocked Flow
Formation of Bubbles in the liquid stream caused due to
flashing or cavitation, causes a crowding condition at
vena contracta, tending to limit the flow.
If the valve pressure drop is increased slightly beyond
the point where bubbles begin to form, chocked flow
condition is reached. With constant upstream pressure,
further increase in pressure drop will not produce
increased flow.
 Chocked Flow

Predicted Flow using Actual P

Actual Flow
Flow

Actual P

Chocked P

P
Liquid Critical Pressure Recovery Factor

Liquid Critical Pressure Recovery Factor FL is used to

calculate the pressure drop when the valves liquid flow
is choked.
The FL is the square root of the ratio of valve pressure
drop to the pressure drop from the inlet pressure to the
pressure of the vena contracta.

Fl=[(P1-P2)/(P1-Pvc)]
 Liquid Critical Pressure Recovery Factor

The FL factor is an indication of the valves vena contracta

pressure relative to the outlet pressure.
Lower is this coefficient the higher is the valve capability
to transform the kinetic energy into pressure energy(high
recovery valve).
If the FL were 1.0, the vena contracta pressure would be
the same as the valves outlet pressure and there would
be no pressure recovery.
As the FL value becomes smaller the vena contracta
pressure becomes increasingly lower than the valves
outlet pressure and the valve is more likely to cavitate.
 Liquid Critical Pressure Recovery Factor

Rated FL : The Rated is the actual FL value for a

particular valve and trim style.

Required FL : The Required FL is the FL value

calculated for a particular service condition. It
indicates the required FL needed to avoid choked
flow.
If the Rated FL is less than the Required FL, the liquid
flow will be choked with cavitation.
 Liquid Critical Pressure Ratio Factor

The liquid critical pressure ratio factor (Ff) is

important to liquid sizing as it predicts the
theoretical pressure at vena contracta (Pvc) , when
the maximum effective pressure drop i.e. chocked
pressure drop occurs across the valve.
Liquid Critical Pressure Ratio Factor
Due to complex geometry of valves it is impossible
to measure the pressure at vena contracta, ISA
sizing equations use Liquid Critical Pressure Ratio
Factor (Ff).

Ff 0.96 0.28 (Pv /Pc )1/2

Pvc =Ff Pv
 Allowable Pressure Drop
The Allowable Pressure drop is chosen from the
smaller of actual pressure drop or the chocked
pressure drop and is used in determination of
correct Cv.

Pchocked= Fl2(P1-FfPv)
 Piping Geometric Factor
The Flow capacity of the valve is affected by by the use
of increasers or reducers ,whuch must be corrected in
the Cv equation usinf Piping Geometry Factor Fp.
Due to change in cross-section by the use of fittings,
first there is an irreversible energy loss due to turbulence
(friction loss),
and second there is the conversion between pressure energy
and velocity energy. If the control
If the downstream piping is the same size as the inlet
piping, then the velocity-energy/pressure-energy
exchange at the outlet is reversed and it cancels the
effect at the inlet. Friction losses are always additives.
 Piping Geometric Factor
ISA standard determines fitting friction loss coefficient:
For a reducer at the valve inlet,
K1=0.5(1-(d/D1)2)2
For a expander at the valve outlet,
K1=1-(d/D2)2)2
For velocity- pressue exchange
Reducer at inlet
KB1=1-(d/D1)4
Expander at outlet
KB1=(d/D2)4 -1

Fp=1+((K/1.6010-3)(Ci/d2)2)-1/2
Final Flow Coefficient Calculation
Final Flow Coefficient is calculated is done
according to equation.

Cv=(Q/Fp)(Sg/Pallowable)