Control valve trims Page 103 of 122

Ideal inherent equal-percentage flow characteristic:

In case of an equal-percentage flow characteristic, identical relative changes of travel
show identical changes in percent of the flow coefficient. That means mathematically:

φ= φ0 ⋅ en⋅h (7-4)

The term Φ0 corresponds to the initial value (here 0.02), is the basis of the natural logarithm
and n expresses the slope of the characteristic, which in turn, depends on the theoretical
rangeability (50:1). The equation for n reads:
1 (7-5)
n = ln
φ0
With Φ0 at 0.02 the slope becomes n = 3.91. With this figure the relative Cv- value can be
computed for every travel position h and specified in a tabular form for travels of 5, 10, 20,
30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%.
For the rated flow coefficient or Cv100 value, a tolerance of ± 10 % is permissible. But for
all other relative flow coefficients specific values have to be adhered to. The permissible
deviations in percent may be as larger as smaller the relative Cv-value is. The permissible
limitation values follow from the international standard IEC 60534-2-4.

7.5.4.1  Inherent rangeability

Ideally the open-loop gain remains constant independent of the position of the valve
in a closed-loop control system. Unfortunately, this condition is only achieved in rare
cases. Every user has already experienced a situation where a control valve at higher
travel positions is completely stable, yet permanent oscillations occur at small travel
positions. This is caused by a higher gain of the valve and a steeper slope of the valve
characteristic. In order to simplify the application and the selection of control valves for
the control specialist, certain boundary values for the slope of the inherent characteristic
have been set.
In this way, the permissible slope tolerance is exceeded if the inclination of the straight
line which connects two neighboring measured values (e.g. points 5 % and 10 %), is more
than 2:1 or less than 0.5:1. This rule applies for valve characteristics which the control
valve manufacturer has specified for the same travel positions in its literature (see Figure
7.5.4.1.-1).

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 Page 104 of 122 Chapter 7.  Options and modifications of control valves

Relative Flow coefficient Cv/Cv100

1.2

1.0

Ideal linear characteristic

0.8

Slope to low
0.6 Slope to high

Actual characteristic
0.4

0.2

0
0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
Relative travel h/h100
Figure 7.5.4.1.-1:  Linear characteristic showing non-permissible deviations

A typical inherent characteristic is shown in Figure 7.5.4.1.-1. At relatively small CV -

values the curve proceeds above the ideal characteristic. In the case of large valve travels,
however, it is under it. This is acceptable as long as the characteristic is in accordance
with the slope tolerances and the rated flow coefficient (Cv100) is within its limit values. The
represented characteristic shown in Fig. 7-16 violates the IEC-standard in three different
points:
„„ Between 5 % and 10 % travel the slope of the characteristic is too steep,
„„ between 90 % and 100 % travel the slope is too flat and
„„ the rated flow coefficient (Cv100) deviates more than 10 % from the stated value.
As already mentioned the valve characteristics depend only on the constructive details
- the inherent design factors. Therefore, the manufacturer must analyze whether the
constructive assumptions are really given if deviating characteristics or inadequate
Cv100 - value occur. The starting points of such an investigation are the following:
„„ Seat ring diameter calculated correspondingly?
„„ Sufficient cross-sectional area available (seat ring / plug)?
„„ Streamlined valve body employed?
„„ Correct flow direction chosen?
„„ Guiding effect of the trim considered?

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 Control valve trims Page 105 of 122

Trends and definitions of inherent valve characteristic for globe and rotary valves.
Gain requirements of valve inherent characteristics are defined in IEC 60534-2-4 with
a tolerance band of ± 10 % within the limits 0.5 < ∆Cv /∆s < 1.3 and ± 10 % of the Cv100
value. See Figure 7.5.4.1.-2 to Figure 7.5.4.1.-5.
Because today there are many types of inherent valve characteristics, from the globe
control valves to quarter-turn control valves, IEC 60534-2-4 has defined basic requirements
for the characteristic quality (see Figures Figure 7.5.4.1.-2 to Figure 7.5.4.1.-6).
In general, all kinds of characteristics are supported, but they are to be published if
they are not of the ideal linear or equal percentage type, i.e. outside the tolerance band
defined in IEC 60534-2-4. The ideal equal percentage characteristic of globe valves from
former times cannot be achieved with modern economic standard globe valves, which
also have to follow general market demands to the highest flow capacity (Cv ∙ 100)/DN2
at lowest initial cost. Today, the inherent characteristics of globe valves are somewhat
modified equal percentage in the competitive range of published highest Cv values. To
be competitive, valves need to be offered mostly with the largest seat diameter (smallest
nominal size DN), if not specified otherwise.

1.1
f) DIN IEC 60534-2-4
1.0 a) Tolerance zone of flow coefficients
0.2
b)  1
0.9 ±10 ⋅   %
ϕ 
0.8 b) Max. slope tolerance 2 b
d)
φ = Relative flow coefficient

c) Min. slope tolerance 0.5 b

0.7
c) VDI / VDE 2173
b)
0.6 e) Tolerance zone
a) f) Max. slope tolerance 1.3 b
0.5 g) Min. slope tolerance 0.7 b

0.4 e)
∆ϕ
b = tan α =
0.3 ∆h
g)
0.2
c) Ideal equal-percentage
0.1 d) Ideal equal-percentage
inherent flow characteristic
0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
h = Relative stroke or Angle of rotation
Figure 7.5.4.1.-2:  Inherent valve equal-percentage characteristic

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 Page 106 of 122 Chapter 7.  Options and modifications of control valves

1.1
E I a)
1.0
d)
0.9

0.8 e)
φ = Relative flow coefficient

0.7
J
0.6

0.5

0.4
c)

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
h = Relative stroke or Angle of rotation

DIN IEC 60534-2-4 VDI / VDE 2173

a) Tolerance zone of flow coefficients e) Tolerance zone
0.2 f) Max. slope tolerance 1.3 b ≙ Angle of
 1
±10 ⋅   % 51.87 degrees
ϕ 
g) Min. slope tolerance 0.7 b ≙ Angle of
b) Max. slope tolerance 2 b ≙ Angle of 34.45 degrees
62.97 degrees
∆ϕ
c) Min. slope tolerance 0.5 b ≙ Angle of =b tan
= α
∆h
26.10 degrees
d) Measured characteristic linear within
Example
tolerance zone a)
Figure 7.5.4.1.-3:  Inherent valve linear characteristic

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 Control valve trims Page 107 of 122

Cam and positioner signal technology used to linearize any mismatching is not the “door
to heaven”; rather, advantages and disadvantages need to be discussed separately.
Figure 7.5.4.1.-5 and Figure 7.5.4.1.-6 shows that there is an interaction between the
valve characteristic form, the flow capacity and the power consumption. This is shown
here with liquid measurements of xFz characteristics versus load Cv/Cv100. Valves with
higher xFz values convert the power (∆p ∙ q ∙ const.) better to heat by flow friction than
high flow capacity valves, which convert more to flow velocity and therefore cavitation
occurs at smaller pressure drops. Modern control valves are designed for specific marked
segments like chemicals, food & beverage and pharmaceuticals. On a higher price level
they are used for the downstream hydrocarbon processing industries and oil and gas
market.

1.1

1.0

0.9

0.8
2b
φ = Relative flow coefficient

0.7

0.6 b
0.5 b
0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0
h = Relative stroke or Angle of rotation
Modified equal-percentage h = 0 to 0.5
Modified linear h = 0.5 to 1.0
Figure 7.5.4.1.-4:  Inherent valve modified equal-percentage and modified linear characteristic

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 Page 108 of 122 Chapter 7.  Options and modifications of control valves

And at the top price level they are mainly applied in the onshore and offshore upstream
market, in oil and gas exploration, separation, storing and transport, or they are tailored
for special demands. In the HPI market, control valves are more often “power converting
machines” up to 300 MW used as flare valves, blow down or anti-surge control valves
and for other special demands. Those valves in the severe service area in all nominal
sizes and pressure ratings are on average approximately four times more expensive
-including more detail engineering- than valves of non critical standard applications in
chemical plants in the range of DN ≤ 6 inch and PN ≤ Class 300.
0.9

Globe valve
0.8 Butterfly valve
xFz value - onset of cavitation - IEC 60534-8-4

Rotary plug valve

0.7

0.6

0.5

DN 50 / NPS 2
0.4
DN 80 / NPS 3

DN 150 / NPS 6
0.3
DN 200 / NPS 8

DN 100 / NPS 4
0.2
DN 100 / NPS 4
DN 200 / NPS 8
0.1
DN 200 / NPS 8

0
0 1 2 3 4 5

Globe valves Rotary plug valves

Butterfly valves (70°)
Specific flow capacity Cv · 100/DN2
Figure 7.5.4.1.-5:  Energy converting capacity of Globe and Rotary valves

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 Control valve trims Page 109 of 122

Quality of characteristics and behavior of energy conversion

Cv Flow capacity
φ= Energy converting xFz values
Inherent characteristic Cvs ⋅ 100
(DN = mm )
Cv100
DN2
IEC 60534-8-4
Symbol Angle Cv/DN2
Φ 1.0 xFz 1.0 DN /
Ball valve
Coke valve
90° 14.0 Tendency
< smaller
DN
<

80° 6.0 > greater

D den
te

0.5 0.5
N c
n

> y

D
N
DN
50 / 90
70° 3.5 80 / 90
0 0 Φ
Φ 1.0 xFz 1.0
Butterfly valve
centric shaft
90° <8

0.5 70° <4 0.5

D

DN 150 / 60
N

200 / 60
60° <2 300 / 60
0 0 Φ
Φ 1.0 xFz 1.0
Butterfly valve
excentric shaft
90° < 4.2

0.5 70° < 3.5 0.5

D

DN
N

60° < 2.5

0 0 Φ
Φ 1.0 xFz 1.0
Butterfly valve
double excentric
90° < 3.5
shaft

0.5 70° < 2.5 0.5

DN
D
N

∆p 150/60
60° 2.0 p1 − pv
Non cavitation!
0 0 Φ
Φ 1.0 xFz 1.0
Rotary plug
valve 75° ≤ 3.5
DN 25
D
N

0.5 60° ≤ 3.0 0.5

DN 100 DN
DN 150 25 / 60
50° ≤ 2.1 50 / 75
150 / 75
0 0 Φ
Φ 1.0 xFz 1.0
Globe valve Cv Seat-Ф
DN
can have ideal- and
today all kind of ≤ 2.0 < 10 m
m
modified characteristic
DN2 25
25
0.5
0.5 Characteristics 40
ar
ne

ge
Li

80/100
ta

stroke
en

e 150
rc

lp
eq
ua
≤ 0.3 Average measurements
of high performance 300
seat φ 0
parabolic trims.
xF = 0.75 Φ
0
Figure 7.5.4.1.-6:  Quality of characteristics and behavior of energy conversion

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