Pressure Independent Control Valve Functions

Control valves are an essential component of any operation taking place within an industrial system, and some systems specifically require the use of a pressure independent control valve. The flow of a gas or liquid between pipelines and locations with different types of machinery must be regulated and controlled for quality production. Services that exist to refine, filter, or circulate certain gas or liquid need to have fixtures that allow supervisors to exercise control over how much process media flows to each location, and at which point those medias will be permitted to move there. A pressure independent control valve performs these functions, while providing additional services of allowing flow to continue in the varying pressure conditions of a factory.

Control valves in general exist to regulate where process media is able to travel within a system, and how much of that substance is able to get by. A pressure independent control valve performs these same functions, but is also designed to maintain flow operations regardless of pressure changes that might take place within the larger context and setting of a particular system.

Control valves function by opening or closing, which either allows media to pass through to a different area of piping, or blocks it off completely so that the flow is blocked. Many types of control valves are also able to open partially, which allows for only the needed amount of a substance to pass through, without flooding a system with an abundance at an inopportune time in production operations. Many control valves are designed to open or close in response to a sensor within the system, which communicates information about the temperature or pressure, or any other sort of criteria necessary for a company. The sensor relays information to the actuator which powers the control valve, and the valve opens or closes to allow the appropriate amount of substance through for the current factory conditions.

A pressure independent control valve has a self-contained pressure regulator. This allows for pressure across the control valve to remain constant at all times, regardless of any pressure changes that are taking place in the larger factory context. A sensor can still be installed within the pressure independent control valve that will instruct an actuator to adjust the valve position and the flow volume as deemed necessary by factory conditions, but flow within a pressure independent control valve can be maintained at all points of operation. This flow will not automatically be adjusted based on any pressure shifts that occur in the larger system itself. In some instances, this is necessary, as factory conditions may fluctuate pressure, but a constant flow of a substance at the same volume may need to be maintained despite these changes. The installation of a pressure independent control valve allows for exactly this type of operation to take place, which allows production operations to continue at a constant pace. With the tough economy and need for constant and efficient production, the pressure independent control valve is vital for success.