So, you know you need some form of control in your process, but where do you go from there? There are so many different options available depending on the process conditions and the level of control you’re looking for. And with budget restrictions becoming ever more stringent, making the best decision the first time is crucial.
First and foremost, you need to know how accurate the control needs to be. Obviously, you don’t want to have something that is inherently inaccurate, but there are levels that need to be understood. At the end of the day, the more precise the level of control needs to be, the more expensive the package will be as a whole. Some processes need to be incredibly accurate while others don’t. Before going down the rabbit hole of all the features a control package can offer, determine the level of accuracy required.
Among the highest performing control valves, for example, is the globe control valve. Some version of a globe valve are going to work well under most any conditions. They work very well for high temperature applications and where there are high-pressure drops. In these situations, due to their design, globe control valves help to reduce noise generation and cavitation.
The downside to these types of valves is their size and price. They tend to be large and expensive, so again, this may not be the ideal solution depending on your needs. Alternatively, quarter-turn valves could be right choice for you. They are designed to be smaller and typically less expensive. However, there are some situations where they outperform a globe valve.
Temperature and pressure must be taken into account when specifying control valve technology, and specifically, its extremes. What is the hottest this process can get? What is the most pressure to be expected? The selection must be able handle these extremes. For example, if a process exceeds 400⁰ F, certain valves can’t handle the stress, requiring something different.
For a more in-depth discussion on this topic, check out my article from
Control Magazine. And give us a call to walk you through exactly what you need for your next process.
Contact Valin’s process control's experts today at
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