Chapter 5.

Control Valve Selection

Control Valve Seat Leakage Classifications

(In accordance with ANSI/FCI 70−2 and IEC 60534-4)
Testing
Leakage Maximum Procedures
Class Leakage Test Medium Test Pressures Required for
Designation Allowable Establishing
Rating

No test required
I --- --- --- provided user and
supplier so agree.

Pressure applied to
valve inlet, with
3-4 bar (45−60 outlet open to
psig) or max. atmosphere or
Air or water at
0.5% of rated operating connected to a low
II 10−52_C
capacity differential, head loss
(50−125_F)
whichever is measuring device,
lower. full normal closing
thrust provided by
actuator.

0.1% of rated
III As above As above As above.
capacity

0.01% of rated
IV As above As above As above.
capacity

Pressure applied to
valve inlet after
filling entire body
0.0005ml per
cavity and
minute of water
Max. service connected piping
per inch of orifice
pressure drop with water and
diameter per psi
across valve plug, stroking valve plug
differential Water at 10−52_C
V not to exceed closed. Use net
(5 X 10−12m3 per (50−125_F)
ANSI body rating, specified max.
second of water
or lesser pressure actuator thrust, but
per mm of orifice
by agreement. no more, even if
diameter per bar
available during
differential).
test. Allow time for
leakage flow to
stabilize.

Pressure applied to
valve inlet. Actuator
should be adjusted
3.5 bar (50 psig) to operating
Not to exceed or max. rated conditions specified
amounts shown Air or nitrogen at differential with full normal
VI in following table 10−52_C pressure across closing thrust
based on port (50−125_F) valve plug, applied to valve
diameter. whichever is plug seat. Allow
lower. time for leakage
flow to stabilize and
use suitable
measuring device.

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Chapter 5. Control Valve Selection

Class VI Maximum Seat Leakage Allowable

(In accordance with ANSI/FCI 70−2)
NOMINAL PORT DIAMETER BUBBLES PER MINUTE(1)
in mm ml per minute Bubbles per minute
1 25 0.15 1
1-1/2 38 0.30 2
2 51 0.45 3
2-1/2 64 0.60 4
3 76 0.90 6
4 102 1.70 11
6 152 4.00 27
8 203 6.75 45
1. Bubbles per minute as tabulated are a suggested alternative based on a suitably calibrated measuring device, in
this case a 1/4 inch (6.3 mm) O.D. x 0.032 inch (0.8 mm) wall tube submerged in water to a depth of from 1/8 to 1/4
inch (3 to 6 mm). The tube end shall be cut square and smooth with no chamfers or burrs, and the tube axis shall be
perpendicular to the surface of the water. Other apparatus may be constructed and the number of bubbles per minute
may differ from those shown as long as they correctly indicate the flow in ml per minute.

Typical Valve Trim Material Temperature Limits

LOWER UPPER
MATERIAL APPLICATION
_F _C _F _C
304 SST, S30400, CF8 uncoated plugs and seats −450 −268 600 316
316 SST, S31600, CF8M uncoated plugs and seats −450 −268 600 316
317 SST, S31700, CG8M uncoated plugs and seats −450 −268 600 316
416 SST, S41600, 38 HRC min cages, plugs and seats −20 −29 800 427
CA6NM, 32 HRC min cages, plugs and seats −20 −29 900 482
Nitronic 50(1), S20910 high strength condition shafts, stems and pins −325 −198 1100 593
440 SST, S44004 bushings, plugs and seats −20 −29 800 427
17−4 PH, S17400, CB7Cu−1, H1075
cages, plugs and seats −80 −62 800 427
condition
Alloy 6, R30006, CoCr−A plugs and seats −325 −198 1500 816
Electroless Nickel Coating trim coating −325 −198 750 400
Hard Chromium Plating trim coating −325 −198 600 316
Hard Chromium Plating on V−balls trim coating −325 −198 800 427
Hard Chromium Coating trim coating −325 −198 1100 593
Monel (2) K500, N05500 uncoated plugs and seats −325 −198 800 427
Monel (2) 400, N04400 uncoated plugs and seats −325 −198 800 427
Hastelloy (3) B2, N10665, N7M uncoated plugs and seats −325 −198 800 427
Hastelloy (3) C276, N10276, CW2M uncoated plugs and seats −325 −198 800 427
Titanium Grades 2, 3, 4, C2, C3, C4 uncoated plugs and seats −75 −59 600 316
Nickel, N02200, CZ100 uncoated plugs and seats −325 −198 600 316
Alloy 20, N08020, CN7M uncoated plugs and seats −325 −198 600 316
NBR, nitrile rubber seats −20 −29 200 93
FKM Fluoroelastomer (Viton®(4)) seats 0 −18 400 204
PTFE, polytetrafluoroethylene seats −450 −268 450 232
PA (nylon) seats −60 −51 200 93
HDPE, high density polyethylene seats −65 −54 185 85
CR, chloroprene (Neoprene(2)) seats −40 −40 180 82
1. Trademark of Armco Steel Corp.
2. Monel and Inconel are tradenames of Special Metals Corp.
3. Hastelloy is a tradename of Haynes International
4. Registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers
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