VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Absolute Zero Pressure

A perfect vacuum which would be obtained if all molecules were removed

from an enclosed space. In reality, this is impossible to achieve, but it does
serve as a convenient reference for pressure measurement.

Atmospheric Pressure

The amount of pressure exerted by the atmosphere above absolute zero

pressure. The "standard" atmospheric pressure (at 0 feet altitude/sea level)
is 14.696 psia or 760 millimeters of mercury at 0C.
It is important to realize that atmospheric pressure at any one location
varies day to day with weather conditions. More important, the atmospheric
pressure changes rapidly with elevation above sea level.

Gauge Pressure

Gauge pressure is always measured above atmospheric pressure. To obtain

absolute pressure, the atmospheric pressure must be added to the gauge
pressure.

Vacuum Pressure

Usually expressed in inches of mercury below atmospheric pressure.

Delta P Shutoff

Maximum differential pressure across the valve when closed. Unless

otherwise specified by the user, Delta P shutoff is normally considered
equal to maximum inlet pressure.

Specific Gravity

The ratio of the density of one substance to the density of a second or

reference substance. The reference substance depends on whether the
flowing media is liquid or gas.
For liquids, water at 60F is used as the reference substance. The density of
distilled water at 60F is 62.3707 lb/ft3.
For gases, air is used as the reference fluid. However, instead of a ratio of
densities, the ideal specific gravity of a gas is defined as the ratio of the
molecular weight of the gas to the molecular weight of air. The molecular
weight of air is 28.9644.

VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Specific Weight

The weight, due to the gravitational pull of the earth, of a substance per
unit volume. Usually expressed in pounds-force per cubic foot (lbf/ft 3). Only
at locations where the local acceleration of gravity is equal to the standard
acceleration of gravity (gc = 32.1740 ft/sec 2) does the numerical value of
the specific weight equal that of the numerical value of density.

Viscosity

The internal resistance of a fluid to flow. Water has low viscosity, while
syrup has high viscosity. Viscosity is highly temperature dependent.
There are two ways to measure the viscosity of a fluid. One is density
independent, known as the "absolute viscosity" usually expressed in
centipoise. The second is density dependent, known as the "kinematic
viscosity" usually expressed in centistokes.

Valve Sizing

A method of predicting the flow rate of a compressible and/or

incompressible fluid through a control valve when all the factors, including
those related to the fluid and its flowing condition, are known. Sizing can be
done using a computer program or by hand calculation. Masoneilan's sizing
program is based on Industry Standard ISA-S75.01 and International
Standard IEC 534-2 equations.
Fluid flow rate can be expressed in units of volume or weight per unit of
time.

Cavitation

A two-stage phenomenon of liquid flow. The first stage is the formation of

cavities (vapor bubbles) within the liquid stream; the second stage is the
collapse or implosion of those cavities (beyond the vena contracta) back
into an all liquid state. The energy released by cavitating liquids can, under
certain circumstances, cause physical damage of valve or piping
components

Sonic Diameter

The diameter at which the process fluid will reach sonic velocity at flowing
conditions.

VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Vena Contracta

The location where the cross-sectional area of the flowstream is at its

minimum. The vena contracta normally occurs just downstream of the
actual physical restriction in a control valve.

Flashing

The formation of voids or cavities (vapor bubbles) in a liquid flow stream

during rapid acceleration of the fluid within the valve orifice. Downstream
of the orifice, the system pressure remains at or below the vapor pressure
of the liquid and the vapor formed at the orifice will remain in the flow
stream. Under some conditions, flashing can cause damage to internal valve
components.

Dead Band

The range through which input can be varied without initiating an

observable output response.

Rated Travel

The amount of movement of the valve closure member from the closed
position to the rated full open position.

Travel

Also called stroke (linear) or degrees of rotation (rotary), the amount of

movement of the closure member from the closed position to an
intermediate position or to the rated full open position.

Throttling

The act of regulating fluid flow through a valve by restricting its orifice or
opening.

VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Ball Valve

A valve that modifies flow rates through rotation of the closure member,
which is either a sphere with an internal passage or a segment of a sphere,
notched or contoured to obtain various flow characteristics.
o

Typical Masoneilan control ball valves: 36004 series Paramax

Butterfly Valve

A valve that controls fluid flow through rotary motion of its closure member,
which is either a disc or a vane pivotally supported by a shaft.
o

Typical Masoneilan butterfly valves: 39003 series high performance and

37003 resilient seat

Globe Valve

A valve with a linear motion closure member, one or more ports, and a body
distinguished by a globular shaped cavity around the port region.
o

Typical Masoneilan globe valves: 21000 series heavy post guided and
41000 series cage guided

Rotary Valve

A valve with a closure member that moves with a rotary motion to modify
the rate of flow through the valve.
o

Typical Masoneilan rotary valves: 30000 series VarimaxTM , 35002 series

Camflex, 36004 series Paramax. Butterfly valves are also classified as
rotary valves.

Three-Way Valve

A valve which allows for the combination of two separate flow streams into
one or the diversion of one flow stream into two. A three-way valve will
never stop fluid flow; it will only divert or combine.

Body

The part of a valve that is the main pressure boundary, providing pipe
connecting ends, the fluid flow passageway, and in some cases, the part
that supports the seating surfaces and closure member.

VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Bonnet

The portion of the valve pressure-containing boundary that provides

guiding to the stem, contains the packing box and stem seal, and provides a
means to attach the actuator. In welded, threaded, or bolted bonnet valves,
the bonnet is the principal opening to the body cavity for assembly and
disassembly
of
the
internal
parts
of
the
valve.
A bonnet also may be integral to the body of the valve. An extension bonnet
may be required to compensate for temperature (either high or low) by
allowing the packing box to be located away from the fluid flow.

Accessory

An electronic, pneumatic, or mechanical device connected to and affecting

the operation of a control valve.

Valve

A valve is a device used for the control of fluid flow. It consists of a fluid
containing assembly (body and bonnet), one or more ports (seat(s))
between end openings (inlet and outlet), and a moveable flow-controlling
element (closure member) which opens, restricts, or closes the port(s).

Control Valve

A power operated device that modifies the fluid flow rate in a process
control system. It consists of a valve connected to an actuator mechanism
that is capable of changing the position of a flow-controlling element within
the valve in response to a signal from the controlling system.

Cage

A trim part in a valve sub-assembly that surrounds the closure member,

provides alignment or guiding, and facilitates assembly/disassembly of the
trim. The cage may provide flow characterization through the geometry of
its flow passages. The cage also may include the seating surface or may
retain a separate seat ring within the valve body cavity.

Plug

A moveable closure member which provides a variable restriction to the

fluid flow.

VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Seat Ring

A trim part assembled in the valve body that may provide part or all of the
flow control orifice and the contact surface for the closure member.

Closure Member

The flow-controlling element of a valve. It is a moveable part positioned in

the flow path to modify the rate of flow through the valve. Closure members
are commonly known as plug, disc, vane, or ball. It moves through the flow
path in either a linear or rotary motion.

Bushing

Also called guide bushing, a fixed member which guides the closure
member, valve stem, and/or actuator stem. The bushing supports the nonaxial loads and is subject to relative motion of parts.

Bottom Flange

A part that closes the valve body opening opposite the bonnet opening as in
a double seated globe valve. This flange may be used to retain an additional
guide bushing

Lantern Ring

A rigid spacer assembled within the packing box with the packing normally
above and below the ring. It is designed to allow lubrication of the packing
or to provide a leak-off connection.

Balanced Trim

An arrangement of ports and plug or a combination of plug, cage, seals, and

ports that tends to equalize the pressure above and below the valve plug to
minimize the net static and dynamic fluid flow forces acting along the axis
of the stem.

Quick Opening Characteristic

An inherent flow characteristic in which the greatest rate of increase in flow

occurs at the lowest travel positions

VALVES TERMINOLOGY

Equal Percentage

The inherent flow characteristic, which, for equal increments of rated

travel, will ideally give equal percentage changes of the existing flow C v at
constant Delta P.

Modified Equal Percentage Characteristic

An inherent flow characteristic that provides fine throttling action at low

valve plug travel and is approximately linear in characteristic for upper
portions of valve travel.

Linear Characteristic

An inherent flow characteristic, which can be represented by a straight line

on a rectangular plot of flow Cv versus percent rated travel. Therefore,
equal increments of travel provide equal increments of flow C v at constant
pressure drop

Cam Characterized

The use of a mechanical or electronic adjustment to modify the inherent

relationship of signal to stem travel.

Characteristic

The relationship between flow coefficient (Cv) or valve flow output and valve
travel or valve physical input. Linear, equal percentage, modified
percentage, and quick opening are the most common control valve
characteristics.

Inherent Flow Characteristic

The relationship between the flow rate through a valve and the travel of the
closure member as the closure member is moved from the closed position
to the rated travel with a constant pressure drop across the valve.

Inherent Rangeability

The ratio of the largest controllable flow Cv to the smallest controllable flow
Cv within which the deviation from the specified inherent flow characteristic
does not exceed the stated limits.

Cam Characterized

VALVES TERMINOLOGY
The use of a mechanical or electronic adjustment to modify the inherent
relationship of signal to stem travel.