What is Flow Control Valve?

A flow control valve regulates flow and pressure by responding to signals generated by a number of independent devices, including flow meters and temperature gauges. A flow control valve has two main functions: to control the pressure of a fluid, and to regulate the amount of fluid flowing through a pipe. These functions are performed through an electronic circuit.

A flow control valve is an electromechanical device used to regulate the level of liquids in a container. Turbulence in the liquid that enters the container causes high-frequency noise. In order to counteract this noise, the valve has a stilling well, which essentially forms a U-tube. This filtration device reduces high-frequency noise, allowing low-frequency liquid level oscillations to occur. The signal is then passed to a controller.

A pressure-compensated flow-control valve is another type of valve. The compensator in these valves automatically adjusts the size of its orifice in response to varying inlet and load pressures. This mechanism allows the flow to remain constant under most operating conditions. It also has the additional feature of being able to compensate for changes in pressure and temperature, thereby achieving a higher or lower flow rate.

One example of a flow-control valve is a household tap. The sleeve on a flow control valve has an adjustable screw with a ball that turns to change the area of the orifice. A smaller orifice will restrict the flow, while a larger orifice will allow more fluid to pass through.