Control Valve: Selection & Inspection

We will attempt to present the basics of choosing and selecting a control valve in this post. 

How would an application engineer follow the parameters? In general, control valves, regardless of the brand and the differentiating features in commercial terms, offer a wide range of possibilities, regardless of the answer to this question. The valves manufacturers in India always stand with the best qualified, certified, and manually inspected valves.

A control valve’s function

One of the factors to consider when choosing your valve is its function; currently and generally speaking, control valves can perform four types of functions: isolation, retention, regulation, or safety. 

We are seeking to interrupt and isolate the flow in the first case; in the second case, the function is to prevent the flow from returning to the pressurized area; in the remaining two cases, the function is to regulate and change the flow, or to ensure the equipment is protected in the event of excessive pressure. 

Selection of control valves based on nominal pressure

Nominal pressure, or “Rating,” is one of the most important factors to identify. We obtain this information by cross-referencing different data, such as the effective working pressure and temperature. As shown in this table, modern control valves are normally operated with the following nominal pressures: 

This chart is for the general-purpose, few valve manufacturers also offer your specific pressure suitable valves to fulfill and best fit with your requirements.

Control valve materials: What should you keep in mind?

After you have identified the nominal pressure of your valve, you should check the materials so that no mistakes are made. A long list of factors affect valve performance: erosion resistance, fluid corrosion resistance, the temperature at which the valve must operate, chemical compatibility of the materials; in essence, you must pay attention to the pressure-retaining body, the soft parts, and seals, as well as all of the screws and coatings. 

Suitable materials must utilize to manufacture each part.

Control valve activation

The activation system should also be considered when choosing your control valve, given that different models can be powered by different methods or systems. 

Manually operated; they may also be powered by the same fluid or by external components.  Every factor is determined by the needs of your installation: frequency of operations, auxiliary energy available, etc.

Tips for inspecting control valves

Fluid handling and processing equipment such as control valves are crucial to a wide range of industries. For this reason, it is essential to properly maintain and repair them. As a result, there is an increased risk of component failure, which can result in unplanned downtime, and, in severe cases, system damage or breakdown.

In the process of controlling valve maintenance and repair, control valves must first be inspected and tested. These evaluations are used to determine whether maintenance/repair work is required, and, if so, what kind of work is required. Check out the following information to learn how to inspect control valves. 

Signs a Control Valve Needs Repair or Replacement

When inspecting a valve, there are a number of signs that indicate it needs to be maintained, repaired, or replaced. Here are some key indicators:

Chattering valves

It is possible to hear a noise coming from the valve body due to vibrations in the spindle or plug. That noise is known as valve chatter. These vibrations can eventually wear out different components.

It is possible for valve chatter to occur for a variety of reasons. Incorrect orientation or sizing tends to be the most prevalent. Due to spring pressure and conflicting flow, the valve plugs bounce within the body of the valve, creating audible vibrations. It is necessary to reorient the valve or replace the existing valve with a properly sized one to resolve this issue, however, both methods can be expensive depending on how long it takes to shut down, drain, and replace the valve.

Liquid Leakage

Process heating systems can suffer from fluid leaks that can lead to a number of problems. Among these are pressure loss, unstable pressure, component damage, and material contamination. When left unaddressed, all of these problems can lead to system damage or failure.

Leaks caused by the fluid can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as damaged valve components or inappropriately sized or rated valves, just as valve chatter does. In order to prevent this issue, regular maintenance must be performed and repair work carefully completed.

Spindles or plugs that have seized

During valve operation, the plug and spindle move in concert. Plugs/spindles that are seized prevent actuation, causing problems with fluid flow, pressure, temperature, and many other variables.

The main causes of seized plugs are damage to the internal valve body, damage to the valve plug, and debris in the process fluid. You can largely avoid these problems by maintaining the system, the valve, and its components.

Failure of the actuator

Control valves open and close based on the actuator. In the event that the actuator fails, the valve will no longer operate as intended in the system.

Depending on the type of actuator, the cause and solution will vary. Often, electric actuators fail due to motor failure or electrical problems, and the best solution is to replace these parts or the entire actuator.

Final Thoughts

As a company that specializes in all kinds of industrial valves, and as a control valve manufacturer in India. We know how important it is to have control valves that are functional and reliable. The control valves are the heart of the control system, and if they don’t work properly, they can pose serious dangers for anyone involved with the machine. We hope that this information will help you to know more about the different types of control valves, how they work, and what you need to look out for when it comes to your control system. If you have any other questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at www.airainidia.com. We would love to hear from you!