Pressure Reducing Valves
Pressure Reducing Valves
(OP)
How do they work? In relation to upsteam flows/pressures and downstream flows/pressures
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RE: Pressure Reducing Valves
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RE: Pressure Reducing Valves
Since the spring has a K-factor and the valve disc has measurable travel, Increasing flow requires the valve to stroke further to open the disc proportional to the flowrate. For this to happen the downstream pressure must deviate farther from set pressure for greater flow. This phenom is called "Droop". The PID equivalent is proportional band.
Usually the flow in a regulator tends to close the disc, and most regulators have unbalanced discs. The ratio of the disc area to the diaphragm area determines the upstream pressure effect, or inverse sympathetic ratio. If the diaphragm area is 10 times the disc area, for an increase in supply pressure of 10 psi, the setpoint will decrease by 1 psi.
PRV enhancements include dome loading (gas pressure replaces the spring; K=0), Balanced plug (Decreased inverse sympathetic ratio), and Pilot actuation (small regulator senses downstream pressure and controls a larger regulator).
PRVs give straight proportional control. There is no Reset or Rate effect. (P has a value. I and D are zero) PRVs handle mundane pressure control duties. If you need greater precision you must use a control valve with a control loop.
RE: Pressure Reducing Valves
I would like to add that usually, a PRV is thought of as:
- being used to handle a single setpoint pressure regulation
- a self contained unit that does not require external power/air/utilities
A control valve is usually thought of as
- being used to handle multiple setpoints
- controlled by an external pneumatic or hydraulic controller (similar to a PRV)/PLC/control system
- requires external air(sometimes propane, fuel gas, nitrogen, etc)/electricity
- comes in multiple pieces/componetes (and can be from different manufactureres)
It is usually easier to change the setpoint for a control valve than a PRV.
And, the PDF file is free for downloading.
RE: Pressure Reducing Valves
If greater precision is required for an application with widely varying demand then use a PID (actually just PI) pressure controller and control valve.
John