What is a Control Valve?
A control valve is a power operated valve that varies flow in response to a signal from a controller, to hold a process variable at set point.
Control Valve Explained
A control valve has a body and trim that restrict flow, an actuator that moves the trim, and usually a positioner that sets the exact opening from a 4 to 20 mA or digital signal.
It is the final control element in most loops, so its sizing, characteristic and behaviour (friction, deadband, speed) directly affect control quality.
Calculators for Control Valve
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Control Valve?
A control valve is a power operated valve that varies flow in response to a signal from a controller, to hold a process variable at set point.
Control valve or on off valve?
Control valves throttle continuously; on off valves are fully open or closed, for isolation or shutdown.
What opening should a control valve run at?
Many guidelines aim for roughly 20 to 80 % opening across the operating range, so the valve keeps control margin both ways.
Learn more on the blog
Control valve selection: 16 vital factors
A practical guide on instrumentationblog.in with more detail on control valve and how it is applied on real plants.
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