Revised September 2006 STE Instrumentation

MAN-GL-TRNG-SWT-002 (REVISION 4)

Section 8

Instrumentation Control
Valve Flow Characteristics
Table of Contents
Introduction and Objectives 8-2
Introduction.......... 8-3
Discussion of Flow Characteristics....... 8-3
Selection of Flow Characteristics.. 8-4
Pressure Control Systems..... 8-10
Liquid Control Systems.... 8-13

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Control Valve Flow Characteristics
Revised September 2006 STE Instrumentation
MAN-GL-TRNG-SWT-002 (REVISION 4)

Introduction
The section contains information on Flow Control Characteristics and the
selection of such.

Objectives
After completing this section, you should be able to

Understand the reason behind flow control

How to select a Pressure Controller.
How to select a Liquid Controller.

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Control Valve Flow Characteristics
Revised September 2006 STE Instrumentation
MAN-GL-TRNG-SWT-002 (REVISION 4)

Control Valve Flow Characteristics

Introduction

The flow characteristic of a control valve is the relationship between the flow rate
through the valve and the valve travel as the travel is varied from 0 to 100%.
Inherent flow characteristic refers to the characteristic observed with a constant
pressure drop across the valve. By installed flow characteristic, we mean the
one obtained in service where the pressure drop varies with flow and other
changes in the system.

The purpose of characterizing control valves is to provide for relatively uniform

control loop stability over the expected range of system operating conditions. To
establish the characteristic needed to match a given system requires a dynamic
analysis of the control loop. Analysis of the more common processes has been
performed however, so we can establish some useful guidelines for the selection
of the proper flow characteristic.

Discussion of Flow characteristics

The accompanying drawing illustrates typical flow characteristic curves. The

quick opening flow characteristic provides for maximum change in flow rate at
low valve travels with a fairly linear relationship. Additional increases in valve
travel give sharply reduced changes in flow rate, and when the valve plug nears
the wide-open position, the change in flow rate approaches zero. In a control
valve, the quick opening valve plug is used primarily for on-off service; but it is
also suitable for many applications where a linear valve plug would normally be
specified.

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Control Valve Flow Characteristics
Revised September 2006 STE Instrumentation
MAN-GL-TRNG-SWT-002 (REVISION 4)

The linear flow characteristic curve shows that the flow rate is directly
proportional to the valve travel. This proportional relationship produces a
characteristic with a constant slope so that with constant pressure drop, the valve
gain will be the same at all flows. (Valve gain is the ratio of an incremental
change in flow rate to an incremental change in valve plug position. Gain is a
function of valve size and configuration, system operating conditions and valve
plug characteristic.) The linear valve plug is commonly specified for liquid level
control and for certain flow control applications requiring constant gain.

In the equal percentage flow characteristic, equal increments of valve travel

produce equal percentage changes in the existing flow. The changes in flow rate
are always proportional to the flow rate just before the change in valve plug, disc,
or ball position is made. When the valve plug, disc, or ball is near its seat and the
flow is small, the change in flow rate will be small; with a large flow, the change in
flow rate will be large. Valves with an equal percentage flow characteristic are
generally used on pressure control applications and on other applications where
a large percentage of the pressure drop is normally absorbed by the system itself,
with only a relatively small percentage available at the control valve. Valves with
an equal percentage characteristic should also be considered where highly
varying pressure drop conditions can be expected. Fisher Micro-form, Micro-Flust,
V-Pup, equal percentage valve plugs and cages all exhibit an equal percentage
flow characteristic. Fisher rotary stems Vee-Ball, HiBall and butterfly valves
have flow characteristics, which are approximately equal percentage.

The modified parabolic flow characteristic curve falls between the linear and
equal percentage characteristics. Fisher throttle plug and V-port valve plugs
exhibit a modified parabolic flow characteristic. They can be substituted for equal
percentage valve plugs in many applications although at some sacrifice in
performance.

4
Control Valve Flow Characteristics
Revised September 2006 STE Instrumentation
MAN-GL-TRNG-SWT-002 (REVISION 4)

Selection of flow Characteristic

Here are some guidelines that will help in the selection of the proper flow
characteristic. Remember, however, that there will be occasional exceptions to
most of these rules of thumb, and that a positive recommendation is possible
only by means of a complete dynamic analysis. It should also be notes that
where a linear characteristic is recommended, a quick opening valve plug could
be used, and while the controller will have to operate on a wider proportional
band setting, the same degree of control accuracy may be expected.

Control Valve Flow Characteristics Continued

Liquid Level Systems

Control Valve Pressure Drop Best Inherent

Characteristic
Constant P Linear

Decreasing P with Increasing Load, P at Maximum Load >

20% of Minimum Load P Linear

Decreasing P with Increasing Load, P at Maximum

Equal-Percentage
Load < 20% of Minimum Load P

Increasing P with Increasing Load, P at Maximum

Linear
Load < 200%of Minimum Load P

Increasing P with Increasing Load, P at Maximum

Quick Opening
Load> 200% of Minimum Load P

Pressure Control Systems

Best Inherent
Applications Characteristic
Liquid Process Equal-Percentage

Gas Process, Small Volume, Less Than l0ft. of Pipe Equal-Percentage

Between Control Valve and Load Valve

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Control Valve Flow Characteristics
Revised September 2006 STE Instrumentation
MAN-GL-TRNG-SWT-002 (REVISION 4)

Gas Process. Large Volume Process has a

Receiver, Distribution System or Transmission Line
Exceeding 100 ft. of Nominal Pipe Volume Linear
Decreasing P with Increasing Load, P at Maximum
Load> 20% of Minimum Load P
Gas Process. Large Volume. Decreasing P with
Increasing Load, P at Maximum Load < 20% of Equal-Percentage
Minimum Load P

Flow Control Processes

LOCATION OF BEST INHERENT CHARACTERISTIC

CONTROL VALVE IN
FLOW MEASURE- Small Range of Flow
RELATION TO
MENT SIGNAL TO Wide Range of but Large P
MEASURING
CONTROLLER
ELEMENT Flow Change at Valve
Set Point with increasing
Load
In Series Equal - Percentage
Linear
Proportional To
Flow In Bypass* Equal Percentage
Linear

In Series Equal Percentage

Linear
Proportional To
Flow Squared In Bypass* Equal - Percentage
Equal -
Percentage

*When control valve closes, flow rate increases in measuring element.

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Control Valve Flow Characteristics