The flow and cavitation characteristics of cage-type control valves

Abstract

Cage-type control valves are widely used in process industries, but cavitation can occur when the valves are used in extreme high-pressure drop and large volume flow rate conditions. In this study, the cage-type control valve with improved valve cages is introduced, and its flow and cavitation characteristics are compared with other cage-type control valves with no dead zones in the regulation process. Two cage numbers and four valve cage structures are studied. Numerical simulations are conducted, and their accuracy is validated using experimental results. Results show that cage-type control valves with valve cage 1 have the maximum flow coefficient and cavitation intensity under the same cage number. Cage-type control valves with valve cage 2 have the minimum flow coefficient but medium cavitation intensity. While cage-type control valves with improved valve cages have a medium flow coefficient but minimum cavitation intensity, and water vapor volume can be reduced by 2–8 times compared with cage-type control valves with the valve cage 2. Furthermore, for cage-type control valves with improved valve cages, the cavitation intensity, and flow coefficient decrease as the cage number and groove height increase.