Control valves are defined as those controlling parts that control and direct the flow of fluid passing through the passages. The importance of these control valves is immense. This is to carry out important experiments in the field of chemical engineering. To facilitate the experiment in the field of chemical engineering, control valves help in controlling the pressure, temperature, and level of liquid. The size and type of valve that are used in the system are dependent on the nature of experiments to be done and executed. In India, the function of the control valve includes vital importance in industrial work and developments. 

What is a control valve?

Control valves are a helper in controlling the pressure. Temperature and flow of liquid through the pipes ensure that the right quantity of fluid is used in the industrial process and the experimentations. 

What are the different parts of a control valve?

A control valve has mainly two important parts namely, the actuator sport and the main body part. The actuator further has various parts namely “rain cap, eye bolt, diaphragm, spring, actuator stem connector, scale plate, yoke”. The main body, on the other hand, has various parts in it like “packing flange”, “packing flower”, “yoke claim nut”, “gland packing”, “valve system”, bones, “stud bolt”, nut, gasket, “guide ring”, “guide bushing”, “valve plug”, “seat ring”, “valve body”, “trim set” and positioner. 

Types of control valves

• Butterfly valves: These kinds of valves are relatively low cost and use a lot of low space. The controlling mechanisms are very easy and have a long diameter with them.

• Globe valves: These valves are characterized by high cost and can be only used if the fluid that it controls is clean. They provide control of fluid with more accuracy.

• Ball valves: These are mainly of two types, full and the other one is segmented. The full valve helps in on, off services, and in providing efficient modulation services. The segmented type helps in controlling slurry flows. These Kinds of valves help in providing high flow capacity. The price is relatively moderate.

• Gate valves: These kinds of valves are used for shut-off and in providing isolation services.

• Pinch valves: These valves are of low cost and are used in the case of fluids that are of corrosive nature. They are used for open and closed services and are also used extensively in modulation. Air pressures are used for operating these kinds of valves.

• Plug valves: These valves are characterized by low cost, these valves are used in case of high flow rates, and pressure drops are low.

Description of Flow control valve

These kinds of valves are typically referred to as speed control valves. The main purpose of its use is to control the flow of fluids. The valves also maintain and control the pressure of the same fluids. In hydraulics systems, these valves are used to control the fluids in various parts of the same system.

Details of the throttle valve

These are the kinds of valves that are used extensively for controlling the supply of the engine, especially that are operated by “handwheel”, “lever”. These valves are designed as per the requirement or for the specific purpose for which these are used. These valves have an internal combustion engine that helps in their operations. 

What is a pressure control valve?

The valve helps in the regulation of the pressure in the system that helps to adjust the force that exists in a “hydraulic piston rod”, or on the “torque” that exists on a “hydraulic motor shaft”.  These valves are of immense importance from the point of industrial operations. 

What are the benefits of control valves?

The control valves provide a lot of benefits in industrial operations. These are further divided into direct benefits and indirect benefits. 

Direct benefits

• These valves are very easy to install. A lot of time and effort is saved in the course of its installation. 
• These valves are operated automatically. It needs no human intervention to turn it on or turn it off. It curtails the dependency on the human activities of an operator. 
• Its efficient design helps prevent the clogging of fluids that passes through the pipes. 

Indirect benefits

• These valves are environmentally friendly and help to reduce wastage and provide a healthy way to deal with such wastage. 

These control valves help in saving the water resources of the industries. This also saves a lot of costs. In this present context where water resources are scarce, this eco-friendly way saves a lot of water resources.

Conclusion

The control valves are of immense importance from the study of chemical engineering. The operations in chemical engineering include the prominent feature of control valves as it is under a process control system. The more clearly the student or aspirant understands the control valves, their operations, their uses, type; the better is the score they can get. These control valves are of different types as “butterfly”, “Globe”, “Ball”, “Gate”, “Pinch”, “Plug”. These Control valves can be operated manually or can be automatically operated. This automation is achieved with rotary actuators. Hence, both theoretical and practical explanation of this is needed among the students