Selection of control valves: everything you should take into account so you don’t make any mistakes

In this post, we will try to provide the basic points for correctly choosing and selecting a control valve for your system or installation. 

What parameters would an applications engineer follow? The answer to this question has several variables but, in general, the  control valves of today, regardless of the brand and the differentiating features in commercial terms, offer a wide range of possibilities.

One of the factors that you should be clear about when it comes to choosing your valve is its function; currently and in general, control valves can fulfil four different functions: isolation, retention, regulation or safety. 

In the first case, we are seeking to interrupt and isolate the flow completely; in the second, the function consists of preventing the flow from going backwards towards the pressurised area; in the other two cases, the functions consist of regulating and modifying the flow, or ensuring the equipment is protected in the event of excess pressure. 

A vitally important factor to identify is the nominal pressure of the valve, also known as the “Rating”. This information is extracted from cross-referencing different data, such as the effective working pressure and effective working temperature. In this table, you will find the values of the most common nominal pressures of modern control valves:

Once the nominal pressure of your valve has been identified, it is important to look at the materials so mistakes are not made; there is a long list of factors: resistance to erosion, resistance to fluid corrosion, the temperature the valve has to withstand, the chemical compatibility of the materials with the fluid; in essence, you should be clear about the pressure-retaining body, the soft parts and seals, as well as all of the screws and exterior coatings. 

Each of the parts must be manufactured with the appropriate materials.

To choose your control valve correctly, you should also look at the activation system given that current models can be powered by different methods or systems.   

The first is manual; they can also be powered by the same fluid or by external components.  Everything depends on the needs of your installation: frequency of operations, auxiliary energy available…

The size of the control valve should be chosen according to different parameters such as the circulation rate of the line, cavitation and differential pressure…

At Valfonta we know that all of these concepts can sound unfamiliar if you don’t fully understand the technical characteristics of your system.

If you would like us to help you to choose a control valve, you just need to contact our customer services department by completing  this form.

We would like to end by reminding you that we are not just specialists in control valves, we also have a high degree of specialisation in pressure-reducing valves,  pressure relief valves and other products such as steam or liquid injectors and ejectors for all types of industrial systems.

We are a family company with many years of experience behind us, which is the best guarantee for each of our customers.