Actual Pressure Drop is defined as the difference between the

upstream (inlet) and down stream (outlet) pressures. When the choked
and actual pressure drops are compared and the actual pressure drop is
smaller, it is used in the Cv sizing equation.
The pressure drop allows for the flow of fluid through the process
system from the upstream side of the valve to the downstream side.
Flow through the valve.
Choked Pressure Drop
where further increases in the pressure drop will not
change the valve's flow rate. This is what is commonly
called choked flow. Because of the choked condition, the
flow rate will reach a maximum condition due to the
existence of cavitation in liquids or sonic velocity with
gases. the term choked pressure drop
choked is used to show the theoretical point where
choked flow occurs, intersecting the linear lines of the
constant C and the maximum flow rate Qmax This point is
known as the liquid pressure-recovery factor FL. For gas
applications, the terminal pressure-drop ratio XT is used to
describe the choked pressure drop for a particular valve. 
• Terminal Pressure-Drop Ratio With gases, the point where
the valve is choked (which means that increasing the
pressure drop though lowering the downstream pressure
cannot increase the flow of the valve) is predicted by the
terminal pressure- drop ratio XT. is affected by the geometry
of the valve's body and varies according to valve style and
individual size.
•Allowable
  Pressure Drop
The allowable pressure drop, Pa is chosen from the smaller of the
actual pressure drop or the choked pressure drop and is used in the
determination of the correct Cv, Should be used in the determination
of the Cv in liquid application when:
first, if the inlet pressure P1 is fairly close to the vapor pressure.
second, if the outlet pressure P2 is fairly close to the vapor pressure
third, if the actual pressure drop is fairly large when compared to the
inlet pressure P1.
Valve coefficient (Cv): numerically equal to the number of U.S. Gallons
of water at 60F that will flow through the valve in one minute with1 psi pressure
drop.
Cavitation
• As the bubbles move down stream, the
cross-sectional flow area opens up, the
velocity goes down and the pressure goes
up. Now we have bubbles with an
internal pressure equal to the vapor
pressure surrounded by a higher
pressure. The bubbles collapse in on
themselves. This combination of bubble
formation and the resulting choked flow,
along with the collapse of the bubbles
downstream is called CAVITATION.
Flashing
• If we continue to decrease the
downstream pressure, we reach
a point where the pressure
downstream of the valve is less
than the vapor pressure of the
liquid and we have the situation
shown in Figure 4.