The flow coefficient - Cv - is important for proper design of control valves

The flow coefficient - Cv - let us compare flow capacities of valves at different sizes, types and manufacturers. The flow coefficient is in general determined experimentally and express the flow capacity in imperial units - GPM (US gallons per minute) of water that a valve will pass for a pressure drop of 1 lb/in2 (psi). The flow factor - Kv - is also in common use, but express the capacity in SI-units. The flow coefficient - Cv - required for a specific application can be estimated by using specific formulas for the different fluids or gases. With the estimated Cv value - the correct valve can be selected from the manufacturers catalogues.

Flow Coefficient - Cv - for Liquids

For liquids the flow coefficient - Cv - expresses the flow capacity in gallons per minute (GPM) of 60oF water with a pressure drop of 1 psi (lb/in2). Flow expressed by volume Cv = q (SG / dp)1/2 where q = water flow (US gallons per minute) SG = specific gravity (1 for water) dp = pressure drop (psi) or alternatively in SI units: Cv = 11.7 q (SG / dp)1/2 where q = water flow (m3/h) SG = specific gravity (1 for water) dp = pressure drop (kPa) Flow is expressed by weight Cv = w / (500 (dp SG)1/2) where w = water flow (lb/h) (1c) (1b) (1)

SG = specific gravity (1 for water) dp = pressure drop (psia) or alternatively in SI units: Cv = 5.32 w / (500 (dp SG)1/2) where w = water flow (kg/h) SG = specific gravity (1 for water) dp = pressure drop (kPa) Example - Flow Coefficient Liquid The flow coefficient of a control valve which in the full open position passes 25 gallons per minute of water with a one pound per square inch pressure drop can be calculated as: Cv = (25 gpm) (1 / (1 psi))1/2 = 25 (1d)

Flow Coefficient - Cv - for Saturated Steam

Since steam and gases are compressible fluids, the formula must be altered to accommodate changes in the density. Critical (Choked) Pressure Drop At choked flow the critical pressure drop the outlet pressure - po - from the control valve is less than 58% of the inlet pressure - pi. The flow coefficient can be expressed as: Cv = m / 1.61 pi where m = steam flow (lb/h) pi = inlet steam absolute pressure (psia) po = outlet steam absolute pressure (psia) Non Critical Pressure Drop For non critical pressure drop the outlet pressure - po - from the control valve is greater than 58% of the inlet pressure - pi. The flow coefficient can be expressed as: Cv = m / (2.1 ((pi + po) (pi - po))1/2) (2b) (2)

Flow Coefficient - Cv - for Superheated Steam

The flow coefficient for superheated steam should be multiplied with a correction factor: Cv = Cv_saturated (1 + 0.00065 dt) where dt = steam temperature above saturation temperature at the actual pressure (oF) Example - flow coefficient superheated steam The flow coefficient for steam superheated with 50oF can be calculated as: Cv = Cv_saturated (1 + 0.00065 (50oF) =1,0325 Cv_saturated (3)

Flow Coefficient - Cv - for Saturated Wet Steam

Saturated wet steam includes non evaporated water particles reducing the "steam quality" and very wet saturated steam should be multiplied with a correction factor: Cv = Cv_saturated 1/2 where = dryness fraction Example - Flow Coefficient Wet Saturated Steam For steam with moisture content 5% the dryness fraction can be calculated as: = ws / (ww + ws) = 0.95 / (0.95 + 0.05) = 0.95 where ww = mass of water ws = mass of steam The flow coefficient can be calculated as: Cv = Cv_saturated (0.95)1/2 = 0.97 Cv_saturated (4)

Flow Coefficient - Cv - for Air and other Gases

For critical pressure drop the outlet pressure - po - from the control valve is less than 53% of the inlet pressure - pi. The flow coefficient can be expressed as: Cv = q [SG (T + 460)]1/2/ 660 pi q= 660 Cv pi/[SG (T + 460)]1/2 where q = free gas per hour, standard cubic feet per hour (Cu.ft/h) SG = specific gravity of flowing gas relative to air at 14.7 psia and 60oF T = flowing air or gas temperature (oF) pi = inlet gas absolute pressure (psia) Example 1 SG = 0.393 .COG as per Tech. Specification for AMKs COG Blower pi1=20 kPa = 2.9 psi pi2=25 kPa = 3.625 psi Cv =1767 T = 30oC= 86 oF q1 = 230,879.8 Cu.ft/h = 230,879.8 Cu.ft/h x 0.028316847= 6537.8 m3/h q2 = 288,599.7 Cu.ft/h = 288,599.7 Cu.ft/h x 0.028316847= 8172.2 m3/h Example 2 SG = 0.393 .COG as per Tech. Specification for AMKs COG Blower pi1=20 kPa = 2.9 psi pi2=25 kPa = 3.625 psi Cv =1785 T = 30oC= 86 oF q1 = 233,231.7 Cu.ft/h = 220,423.3 Cu.ft/h x 0.028316847= 6604.4 m3/h q2 = 291,539.6 Cu.ft/h = 275,529.1 Cu.ft/h x 0.028316847= 8255.5 m3/h (5)

For non critical pressure drop the outlet pressure - po - from the control valve is greater than 53% of the inlet pressure - pi. The flow coefficient can be expressed as: Cv = q [SG (T + 460)]1/2/ [1360 (dp po)1/2] where dp = (pi - po) po = outlet gas absolute pressure (psia) (5b)

The specific gravity of some common gases can be found in the table below: Specific Gravity1) - SG Acetylene (ethyne) - C2H2 0.90 1) Air 1.000 Alcohol vapor 1.601 Ammonia - NH3 0.59 Argon - Ar 1.38 Arsine 2.69 Benzene - C6H6 2.6961 Blast Furnace gas 1.02 Butadiene - C4H6 1.87 Butane - C4H10 2.0061 1-Butene (Butylene)- C4H8 1.94 Isobutene - C4H8 1.94 Carbon dioxide - CO2 1.5189 Carbon monoxide - CO 0.9667 Carbureted Water Gas 0.63 Chlorine - Cl2 2.486 Coke Oven Gas 0.44 Cyclobutane 1.938 Cyclopentane 2.422 Cyclopropane 1.451 Decane 4.915 Deutrium - D2 0.070 Digestive Gas (Sewage or Biogas) 0.8 Ethane - C2H6 1.0378 Ether vapor 2.586 Ethyl Chloride - C2H5Cl 2.23 Ethylene (Ethene) - C2H4 0.9683 Fluorine 1.31 Helium - He 0.138 Heptanes 3.459 Hexane 2.973 Hydrogen 0.0696 Hydrogen chloride - HCl 1.268 Gas

Hydrogen sulfide - H2S Hydrofluoric acid Hydrochloric acid Illuminating gas Isobutane Isopentane Krypton Marsh gas Mercury vapor Methane - CH4 Methyl Chloride Natural Gas (typical) Neon Nitric oxide - NO Nitrogen - N2 (pure) Nitrogen - N2 (atmospheric) Nitrous oxide - N2O Nonane Octane Oxygen - O2 Ozone Pentane Phosgene Propane - C3H8 Propene (Propylene) - C3H6 Sasol Silane Sulfur Dioxide - SO2 Toluene-Methylbenzene Water gas (bituminous) Water vapor Xenon
1)

1.1763 2.370 1.261 0.4 2.01 2.48 2.89 0.555 6.940 0.5537 1.74 0.60 - 0.70 0.697 1.037 0.9669 0.9723 1.530 4.428 3.944 1.1044 1.660 2.487 1.39 1.5219 1.4523 0.42 1.11 2.264 3.1082 0.71 0.6218 4.53

NTP - Normal Temperature and Pressure - is defined as air at 20oC (293.15 K, 68oF) and 1 atm ( 101.325 kN/m2, 101.325 kPa, 14.7 psia, 0 psig, 30 in Hg, 760 torr) Since specific gravity is the ratio between the density (mass per unit volume) of the actual gas and the density of air, specific gravity has no dimension.