Selection Considerations for Control Valves vs. Regulators
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 22 April 2009 22:06
- Written by Tony George
In any control system, the option potentially exists to select either a control valve or a regulator, so it is useful to compare the respective performance and economics of these approaches to arrive at some general selection guidelines.
Unlike regulators, control valves are not standalone products. A control valve is the final control element in a control system and needs to be evaluated in that context. A control valve is most frequently used in the control of the following parameters: temperature, pressure, flow and level.
However, in principle, any continuously varying system parameter that can be measured and compared to a set point can be controlled. Also, keep in mind that regardless of the parameter being controlled (the controlled variable), the control valve itself can only change the flow rate.
All control is to a set point, and the control system can be diagrammatically illustrated as shown in Figure 1.
The essential feature of the controller (whether acting as a single-loop controller or as a component within a PLC or within a DCS or fieldbus device) is the incorporation of proportional and integral control modes capable of returning the measured variable to the set point following load changes or system disturbances. Control is generally within 5%, often within 1 to 2%.
Rising stem control valves are typically globe valves commonly used to the 2-inch size. However, globe valves can extend to at least 24 inches in size with special trims and cages for severe service and high-noise applications.
For economic reasons, rotary control valves are generally applied as line sizes increase above 2 inches and a variety of ball valves, eccentric plug and segmented ball valves, and butterfly valves exist in this segment of the market. The segmented ball valve is used in many applications and the largest size rotary control valves, such as butterfly valves, can extend to 72 inches in diameter.
Globe-style valves offer advantages in that the plug and/or cage can be more readily characterized to optimize the installed flow characteristic. Most rotary valves have an inherent flow coefficient characteristic that increases approximately exponentially with the increase in travel.
Although a range of actuators can be used, pneumatic actuation predominates. The diaphragm actuator is generally the style of choice due to minimized resistance and hysteresis for small changes in travel associated with control to within 1 to 2%. For improved control and minimized deadband, positioners are generally specified. It is also common practice for the current-to-pneumatic conversion to occur at the positioner. There is also a continuing increase in the use of intelligent or smart positioners, thereby providing automatic commissioning, higher accuracy, tight shut off, customizable characteristics and diagnostic capabilities.
There are obvious economic considerations associated with the choice of a control valve, which, at a minimum, require the incorporation of sensors and transmitters, controllers, positioners, instrument valves, tubing, wiring, calibration, tuning, etc. Generalized cost estimates can only be considered representative, at best, and can vary significantly depending upon application, size, material, accuracy and commercial circumstances.
