What is a control valve?
A control valve is a critical component in many industrial processes, used to regulate the flow of fluids—such as gases, liquids, steam, or slurries—by varying the size of the flow passage. The primary function of a control valve is to ensure that fluid flow is modulated in response to signals from an external controller, which typically uses inputs like pressure, temperature, or flow rate to determine the necessary adjustments. This dynamic control helps maintain optimal operating conditions in pipelines, process systems, and equipment, leading to improved efficiency, safety, and product quality.
Control valves are composed of three main parts: the valve, the actuator, and the positioner. The valve contains the mechanisms that open and close to control the fluid’s flow path. The actuator receives control signals (usually electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic) that cause it to move the valve stem, thereby changing the flow rate. The positioner adjusts the valve’s position in real time, making fine adjustments based on feedback from the process to maintain precise control.
Without control valves, industrial systems would be unable to handle the complexities of dynamic conditions, making them indispensable for industries such as oil and gas, power generation, chemical processing, water treatment, pharmaceuticals, and food and beverage production. Whether it’s maintaining the pressure in a pipeline, controlling the temperature in a reactor, or regulating the flow in a cooling system, control valves ensure that critical processes are running smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
Watch our explaner video below.
Control Valve Classifications
General Service
General Service valves are designed for standard applications that do not involve extreme operating conditions. These valves are ideal for industries requiring consistent and precise flow control without significant exposure to high pressures, temperatures, or aggressive media. Trimteck’s General Service Valves deliver reliable performance, ease of maintenance, and cost-efficiency for these straightforward operations.
- ANSI Class 150 to 600
- Temperatures from -50F to 650F
- Non-corrosive Fluids
- Moderate Pressure Drops
- No Cavitation
- No Flashing
- Carbon or Stainless Steel Bodies
Special Service
Special Service valves are designed to handle more demanding applications, such as those involving mildly corrosive fluids, higher pressures, or broader temperature ranges. Trimteck’s Special Service Valves are engineered for durability and flexibility, ensuring longevity and stable operation in applications requiring enhanced material performance or tighter tolerances.
- Higher Pressures
- Demanding Temperatures: Cryogenic or Hi-Temp
- Corrosive Fluids
- Moderate Pressure Drops
- Mild Cavitation
- Special Materials of Construction
Severe Service
Severe Service valves are the most robust and specialized valves in Trimteck’s product lineup, built to withstand the harshest conditions in industrial applications. Severe Service Valves are designed to tackle extreme service conditions, such as high pressure drops that result in severe cavitation, flashing, choking, or noise. Our Severe Service Valves are designed to maintain performance and integrity under the most strenuous circumstances, ensuring safety and uninterrupted operation in mission-critical processes.
- All Pressures
- Extreme Temperatures
- Custom-engineered Trim
- Significant Pressure Drops
- Cavitation
- Flashing
- Choking
- Noise
At Trimteck, our commitment to engineering excellence means that every control valve we manufacture is designed to provide the highest level of precision, reliability, and durability. With a wide range of custom configurations available, we ensure that our valves meet the unique needs of each application. Whether you require a valve for general service, special service, or severe service, Trimteck has the expertise and solutions to keep your processes running at peak efficiency.
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Control Valves
Product Groups
The globe valve is the most commonly found control valve in the process industry, due to its simplicity, versatility of application, ease of maintenance, and ability to handle a wide range of pressures, pressure drops, and temperatures.
Globe Valves
Angle body valves, like the globe valve, are linear in motion. However, the body forms a 90-degree angle for cases in which the piping allows only for such a configuration, or in cases of severely cavitating or flashing service.
Angle Valves
Three-way valves are used to divert or converge fluids - often in mixing applications. Trimteck's OpGL-3Way Valve features a modular third port, dual seats, and an extended plug.
3-Way Valves
Segmented and V-Notch Ball valves are similar to conventional ball valves, but with a contoured v-notch segment cut out of the ball. They have good rangeability, control, and shutoff capability. The v-notch ball also provides shearing action and produces an inherent equal percent characteristic.
Segmented & V-Notch Ball Valves
Eccentric Plug Rotary Control Valves, or Rotary Globe Valves, have a plug-shaped, flow-restricting component that does not make contact with the seat until it turns within a few degrees of the shutoff position - the plug then cams and aligns into the seat.
Eccentric Plug Rotary Valves
Though most often associated with on-off applications, a ball valve as a throttling control device ideally uses a reduced port (bore) mechanism to absorb a small amount of pressure drop.
Trunnion Ball Valves
For butterfly valves in throttling applications, one type of valve is now the industry standard: high performance butterfly valves (HPBVs) or double-offset, triple-offset, or quadruple offset valves. Their advantages include a straight-through flow path, very high capacity, and an ability to pass solids.
Butterfly Valves
There are applications that push the envelope of existing valve technology – due to extreme temperatures, pressures, pressure drops, corrosion, erosion, controllability requirements, etc. For these requirements we engineer and manufacture unique control valves often designed together with the end user.
Custom Engineered / Specialty Valves
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