Exp.

No: 1

Group No.: 3

CONTROL VALVE CHARACTERISTICS

Roll No.

Name

CH11B080

Naveen

CH11B081

Neeraj

CH11B089

Sahithi

Signature

Date of experiment:

11th September 2014

Date of submission:

18th September, 2014

Signature of TA:
Name of TA:

Process Control Laboratory

Department of Chemical Engineering
Indian Institute of Technology
Chennai 600 036

Objective:
To study the inherent characteristics of a control valve
Theory:
Pneumatic control valves are commonly used as final control elements to manipulate the
flows of material and energy into and out of a process. The control valve components
include valve body, plug, seat and actuator. Normally a pressure of 3-15 psig is given to the
diaphragm.
Control valve is a valve with a pneumatic, hydraulic, electric (excluding solenoids) or other
externally powered actuator that automatically, fully or partially opens or closes the valve
to a position dictated by signals transmitted from controlling instruments. Control valves
are used primarily to throttle energy in a fluid system and not for shutoff purpose.
All control valves have an inherent flow characteristic that defines the relationship
between 'valve opening' and flow-rate under constant pressure conditions. In general, the
flow of the fluid through the valve can be described as follows:
q=f(po,p1,L)
where p0 and p1 signify the upstream and downstream pressures and L denotes the stem
position.
The inherent valve characteristics are determined for constant upstream and downstream
pressures. Hence q=f(L)
The Cv coefficient of control valve depends on the valve position. It varies from zero when
the valve is closed, to a maximum value, Cv, max, when the valve is fully opened, that is when
the fraction valve position is unity. It is this variation in the Cv that allows the valve to
regulate the flow continuously. The particular function relating the Cv coefficient to the
valve position is known as the inherent valve characteristics. Valve manufacturers can
shape the valve characteristics by changing the shape of the plug and there by changing the
opening area.
Valve Characteristics:
The amount of fluid passing through a valve at any time depends upon the opening
between the plug and seat. Hence there is a relationship between stem position, plug
position and the rate of flow, which is described in terms of flow characteristics of a valve.
The two types of valve characteristics are inherent and installed flow characteristics.

Inherent flow characteristics:

The inherent flow characteristic of control valve is the relation between the flow and the
valve travel at constant pressure drop across the valve.
The inherent flow characteristics of the valve are determined by the valve orifice and plug
geometry. There are three types of inherent flow characteristics, namely, linear, quick
opening and equal percentage. The flow characteristics are represented below.

A. Linear flow Characteristics :

Linear flow characteristics show that flow rate is directly proportional to the valve travel.
Control valves with linear flow characteristics are commonly specified for liquid level
control. The sensitivity of a control valve with linear flow characteristic is always constant.
Mathematically, it can be described as Q=ky, where Q is the flow at constant pressure drop,
y is the valve opening and k is the constant.
B. Equal percentage flow characteristics :
In this flow characteristic, equal increments of valve travel produce equal percentage
changes in the existing flow. The change in flow rate is always proportional to the flow rate
just before the change in valve stem position. This can be represented as Q=beay, where Q is
the flow at constant pressure drop, y is the valve opening and a and b are constants.

C. Quick opening flow characteristics :

A valve with this characteristic provides the maximum change in flow rate at low stem
travels and small changes when the valve stem is in maximum. Control valves with quick
opening flow characteristics are often used for on-off applications where significant flow
rate must be established as the valve begins to open. They are often used in relief valve
applications.

Inherent valve characteristics curve (pressure drop across valve is constant)

I linear, II increasing sensitivity (e.g. equal percentage valve), III decreasing
sensitivity (Quick opening)
Installed Characteristics:
The inherent characteristics of the valves described are subject to distortion due to
variations in pressure drop with flow. Line resistance distorts linear characteristics
towards that of quick opening valve and equal percentage to that of linear.
Hysteresis of control valve:
Hysteresis is a predictable error resulting from the differences in the transfer functions
when a reading is taken from above and below the value to be measured. In case of control
valves for same actuator signal different stem travel (hence valve coefficients) are obtained
depending upon the direction of change in the signal. The maximum error in stem travel
(or valve coefficient) expressed in % for same actuator pressure while opening and closing
the valve is indicated as hysteresis.

Experimental set up:

The experimental set up of control valve consists of on-off, linear and equal percentage
valve respectively. The desired valve is taken into the line and the line pressure drop is
maintained constant (1 kg/cm2) during the measurements by adjusting the bypass valve
(HV1) and the operational control valve. Various opening and closing conditions are
obtained by regulating the pressure G2 by means of the vent-valve. The corresponding
rotameter readings were noted down which correspond to the flow rate.

Procedure
I.

ON-OFF valve
1. Before conducting the experiment, make sure the availability of water in reservoir tank. Fill
clean and soft water in the reservoir.
2. Switch on the unit and the compressor. Now the pump should be in the off position.
3. Keep the bypass valve (HV1) in the fully open position.
4. Set the output pressure of the air regulator (G2) to 15 psi by using the air regulator valve
and the vent valve (HV8).
5. Choose the valve.
6. For the case of on-off valve, open the inlet regulating valve (HV2) and pressure supplying
valve (HV5).
7. Switch on the pump.
8. Now set the backpressure (G1) to 3psi by adjusting the bypass valve (HV1) and inlet
regulating valve (HV2).
9. Set the maximum flow in the rotameter by adjusting the bypass valve (HV1)
10. Now set the backpressure (G1) to 3psi by adjusting the bypass valve (HV1) and inlet
regulating valve (HV2).

11. Maintain this pressure of 3psi in G1 throughout the experiment.

12. Never disturb the hand valve (HV2), once it is adjusted.
13. Observe flow in the rotameter and inlet pressure variation. Note down the air regulator
pressure (G2), rotameter flow and stem position in control valve.
14. Decrease the pressure in air regulator to 12 psi, at the same time pressure across the
control valve slightly increases; adjust hand valve (HV1) to maintain the predefined
pressure in G1.
15. Note flow in rotameter and stem position in control valve, air regulator pressure.
16. Slowly decrease/increase the air pressure regulator and vent valve (HV8) for achieving
different stem positions till the valve is fully closed/open.
17. Tabulate the rotameter flow, air regulator and stem position.
18. Plot the graph between rotameter flow in the y-axis and stem position in x-axis.
19. When the experiment is complete in one valve, set G2 to zero by fully opening vent (HV8)
and air regulator valve (G2) and switch off the pump.
20. For the case of equal percentage valve repeat the procedure by opening the inlet regulating
valve (HV3) and pressure supplying valve (HV6) and for linear valve the procedure is
repeated with inlet regulating valve (HV4) and pressure supplying valve (HV7).
II.

Equal percentage control valve:

Repeat the procedure by selecting the inlet regulating valve (HV3) and pressure supplying
valve (HV6).

III.

Linear Valve
Repeat the procedure by selecting the inlet regulating valve (HV3) and pressure supplying
valve (HV6).
Observations and Calculations:
The flow through the three control valves are found out at constant pressure drop across
the Control Valve. The measurements taken are tabulated below. The flow rate (%) vs stem
lift (%) is plotted in the graph as shown below.

I. ON-OFF valve:
Pressure drop: 3 psi
Data:
Actuated
pressure
(psi)

Valve Closing
Stem Position
Flow Rate
(mm)
(lph)

15
12
9
6
3

24
21
12
3
2

Valve Opening
Stem Position
Flow Rate
(mm)
(lph)

1000
1000
1000
500
0

23
16
8
2
2

1000
1000
1000
0
0

Valve Closing
Valve Opening
Stem Lift %
Flow Rate %
Stem Lift %
Flow Rate %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
87.50
100.00
69.57
100.00
50.00
100.00
34.78
100.00
12.50
50.00
8.70
0.00
8.33
0.00
8.70
0.00

Graph:

On-Off Valve
120.00

Flow Rate %

100.00
80.00
60.00

Valve Closing

40.00

Valve Opening

20.00
0.00
0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

Stem Lift %

80.00

100.00

II. Equal percentage control valve:

Pressure drop: 3 psi
Data:

Actuated
pressure (psi)

Valve Closing
Stem Position
Flow Rate
(mm)
(lph)

15
12
9
6
3

27
19
13
4
0

Valve Opening
Stem Position
Flow Rate
(mm)
(lph)

1000
900
400
150
0

27
19
11
3
0

1000
850
350
100
0

Valve Closing
Valve Opening
Stem Lift %
Flow Rate %
Stem Lift %
Flow Rate %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
70.37
90.00
70.37
85.00
48.15
40.00
40.74
35.00
14.81
15.00
11.11
10.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Graph:

Equal Percentage Valve

120.00

Flow Rate %

100.00
80.00
60.00

Valve Closing

40.00

Valve Opening

20.00
0.00

0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

Stem Lift %

80.00

100.00

III. Linear control valve:

Pressure drop: 3 psi
Data:

Actuated
pressure (psi)

Valve Closing
Stem Position
Flow Rate
(mm)
(lph)

15
12
9
6
3

22
18
12
3
0

Valve Opening
Stem Position
Flow Rate
(mm)
(lph)

1000
950
750
150
0

22
19
14
3
0

1000
950
750
50
0

Valve Closing
Valve Opening
Stem Lift %
Flow Rate %
Stem Lift %
Flow Rate %
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
81.82
95.00
86.36
95.00
54.55
75.00
63.64
75.00
13.64
15.00
13.64
5.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00

Graph:

Linear Valve
120.00

Flow Rate %

100.00
80.00
60.00

Valve Closing

40.00

Valve Opening

20.00
0.00
0.00

20.00

40.00

60.00

Stem Lift %

80.00

100.00

Conclusions:
1. Hysteresis is the dependence of the output of a system not only on its current input, but
also on its history of past inputs.
These differences in values observed during valve opening and valve closing for each of
the valves is because of this property of values.
2. On-Off Valve shows the characteristics of typical on-off feedback systems.
The values are not same along both ways because of the hysteresis which might be
caused due to fluctuations in flow rate, variation in pressure drop and the presence of
non-ideal components like springs, membranes etc.
3. Equal Percentage Valve follows a relationship between valve stem position and the flow
rate described by a curve called the valves flow characteristic curve.
It can be seen that equal increments of valve travel produce equal percentage changes in
the existing flow. But, we can also observe some deviations along the path. Those
deviations may be due to faulty apparatus, fluctuations in flow rate, variation in pressure
drop or hysteresis property of controllers.
4. Linear Valve the flow capacity increases linearly with valve travel.
The deviation from the theoretical linear curve might be because of prolonged usage of
non-linear systems in the control value i.e., hysteresis or fluctuations in flow rate,
variation in pressure drop, etc.
In each case parallax error is also involved.
References:
1. http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/control-valves-flow-characteristics-d_485.html
2. http://blog.opticontrols.com/archives/994
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_valves