Control Valve Sizing:
For Gas Service:
Following is a step by step procedure for sizing control valve for Gas service
according to ISA.
1) Select desired valve design and variable required for sizing of control
valve.
2) Determine Equation Constant N2, N5 and N6, N8 or N9. These are constant
used in equation to offer means for using different unit system.
3) Guess control valve size and estimated CV value and corresponding XT
value.
4) Determine FP, Piping Geometry factor and XTP, Pressure drop ratio factor.
To determine FP and XTP estimated CV value and corresponding XT is used.
FP is correction factor accounts loss of pressure due to piping fitting such
as reducers, elbow and Tee at inlet and outlet of control valve. However,
if no such fitting attached with valve, then FP can be taken as 1 and also
XTP = XT.
5) Determine Pressure drop ratio to use for sizing control valve. When
pressure drop between inlet and outlet is large, flow may cause chocked
flow. If actual pressure drop ratio is higher than pressure drop ratio
which cause choked flow, then chocked pressure drop ratio to be used
for sizing control valve.
6) Determine expansion factor with use of sized pressure drop ratio.
7) Calculate CV value. If CV value is not close to estimated value then guess
new valve size and repeat procedure from step-3.
Calculate Piping geometry factor and Pressure drop ratio factor:
Piping geometry factor can be defined as:
−0.5
2
[ ( )]
F P= 1+
ℇK C V
N2 d4
Where εK is sum of velocity head loss coefficient of fittings attached to valve.
εK = K1 + K2 + KB1 + KB2
Where K1 and K2 are Resistance coefficient of upstream and downstream fitting
respectively.
KB1 and KB2 are inlet and outlet Bernoulli coefficient respectively.
Most commonly reducers are attached with control valve at inlet and outlet.
For Inlet reducers:
2
d2
( )
K 1=0.5 1− 2
D1
For Outlet reducers:
2 2
d
K 2=1.0 1−
( D 22 )
Inlet Bernoulli coefficient KB1:
d 4
K B 1=1− 4
D1
Outlet Bernoulli coefficient KB2:
d 4
K B 2=1−
D 42
XTP (Pressure drop ratio factor) can be calculated as below:
XT
F2P
X TP =
C 2V
1+
XT ( K1+ KB1) ( )
d4
N5
Determine Pressure drop ratio for sizing:
Find the specific heat ratio factor Fγ:
Fγ = γ/1.4
Where γ is specific Heat ratio of gas.
Choked Pressure drop ratio:
x choked =F γ∗X TP
Expansion Ratio can be calculated as:
3∗xchoked
Y =1−
x sizing
Calculate required Cv value:
Cv can be calculated by following three equations depending on data available:
1) For mass flow rate and density:
w
C v=
N 6 F P Y √ x sizing P1 ρ1
2) For mass flow and compressibility:
w T1 Z1
CV=
N 8 F P P1 Y √ M x sizing
3) For standard volumetric flow rate and compressibility:
q M T1 Z1
CV=
N 9 F P P1 Y √ x sizing
Sample Problem:
Assume Valve size and Line size are equal. Design V Notch ball valve for
Natural gas service.
Gas – Natural Gas
Upstream Pressure P1 = 214.7 psia
Downstream Pressure P2 = 64.7 psia
Valve inlet temperature, T1 = 60˚F
Molecular weight, M= 17.39
Compressibility Factor Z1 = 1
Specific Heat ratio, γ = 1.31
Standard Volumetric flow rate = 6000000 schf
Actual Pressure drop, ΔP = 214.7 – 64.7 = 150 psia
Actual Pressure drop ratio = ΔP/P1 = 150/214.7 = 0.70
Step 2: Determine equations constant based on data provided.
For this problem,
N2 = 890, N5 = 1000, N9 = 7320
Step 3: Guess size of valve 6 NPS, Estimated Cv = 1100 and XT is 0.2 @ 90%
opening.
Step 4: Determine Piping geometry factor and Pressure drop ratio factor.
Since Valve and Line size are equal, FP, Piping geometry factor becomes 1 and
XTP = XT = 0.2.
Step 5: Determine Pressure drop ratio for sizing:
First, Calculate specific heat ratio factor.
Fγ = γ/1.4
= 1.31/1.4
= 0.94
Find chocked pressure drop ratio:
x choked =F γ∗X TP
= 0.94 * 0.2
= 0.188
Since, xchoked is less than actual pressure drop ratio. We have to choose xchoked for
sizing of valve. Flow of gas is chocked.
xsizing = xchoked = 0.188
Calculate Expansion Factor Y:
xchoked
Y =1−
3∗x sizing
= 1 – 0.188/3 * 0.188
= 2/3
Calculate required Cv:
q M T1 Z1
CV=
N 9 F P P1 Y √ x sizing
6000000 17.38∗520∗1
=
7320∗1∗214.7∗0.667 0.188 √
= 1254.96
Cv value is larger than estimated value for NPS 6 size Ball Valve. Guess next size
valve.
Step 3: Guess size of valve 8 NPS, Estimated Cv = 1820 and XT is 0.18 @ 90%
opening.
Step 4: Determine Piping geometry factor and Pressure drop ratio factor.
Since Valve and Line size are equal, FP, Piping geometry factor becomes 1 and
XTP = XT = 0.18.
Step 5: Determine Pressure drop ratio for sizing:
First, Calculate specific heat ratio factor.
Fγ = γ/1.4
= 1.31/1.4
= 0.94
Find chocked pressure drop ratio:
x choked =F γ∗X TP
= 0.94 * 0.18
= 0.1692
Since, xchoked is less than actual pressure drop ratio. We have to choose xchoked for
sizing of valve. Flow of gas is chocked.
xsizing = xchoked = 0.1692
Calculate Expansion Factor Y:
xchoked
Y =1−
3∗x sizing
= 1 – 0.188/3 * 0.188
= 2/3
Calculate required Cv:
q M T1 Z1
CV=
N 9 F P P1 Y √ x sizing
6000000 17.38∗520∗1
=
7320∗1∗214.7∗0.667 0.1692 √
= 1322.84
The required Cv is meet range of estimated Cv.
Degree of Opening = 1322.84 * 90/1820
= 65.41%
