Home > Steam Theory > Pressure Reducing Valves for Steam

Steam Theory Pressure Reducing Valves for Steam

1. Basics of Steam In a steam-using plant, steam is often Contents:
generated at high pressures and
2. Steam Heating reduced locally to provide heat for each
1. Reducing Steam Pressure
steam user. This is usually done to
3. Basics of Steam Traps 2. Advantages of Pressure Reducing
minimize the diameter of steam
Valves
distribution piping and enable more
4. Steam Trap Selection 3. Types of Pressure Reducing Valves
cost-efficient steam delivery.
for Steam
5. Steam Trap Problems
a. Direct Acting (Non-piloted)
6. Steam Trap Management
Reducing Steam Pressure b. Pilot-Operated
A common way of lowering pressure is 4. Summary
7. Water Hammer
by throttling down the size of the steam
8. Risk Mitigation passageway. For the most basic
pressure reduction, it is possible to
9. Steam Quality simply use a conventional globe valve in a fixed partly-open position, or by inserting
an orifice plate into the flow of steam. However, any fluctuation in flow rate would be
10. Steam Distribution
accompanied by a corresponding fluctuation in pressure. To avoid such circumstances,
11. Condensate Recovery pressure reducing valves (PRVs) can be used to provide precise control of downstream
pressure. They automatically adjust the amount of valve opening to allow the pressure
12. Energy Efficiency to remain unchanged even when the flow rate fluctuates.

13. Compressed Air / Gas

Advantages of Pressure Reducing Valves
14. Other Valves
While it is possible to maintain a constant pressure by using the combination of an
Types of Manual Valves actuated control valve, a pressure sensor, and a controller, a pressure reducing valve
offers the advantage of being able to control pressure through fully-automatic self-
Bypass Valves
contained operation, requiring no type of external power source. It can offer the
Check Valve Installation and further advantage of extremely rapid response action by immediately sensing and
Benefits adjusting based on the downstream pressure.

Pressure Reducing Valves for Steam

Fig. 1 Heating processes usually benefit from using steam at a lower pressure than that
supplied by the boiler. Thus, pressure reducing valves are often used to reduce steam
pressure to the set point value required by the process.

Types of Pressure Reducing Valves for Steam

In pressure reducing valves, the mechanism that automatically adjusts the
downstream pressure typically uses the balance of forces between the steam pressure
and an adjustment spring. At present, this is a universal concept on almost all
manufactured pressure reducing valves. However, there are two different ways in
which this mechanism is implemented to control the amount of valve opening:

Non-piloted, Direct Acting Valve: Adjustment spring places downward

pressure setting force directly on the main valve.
Pilot-Operated Valve: Adjustment spring places downward pressure setting
force directly on a pilot valve, which is smaller and different from the main valve.

The following is an overview of the features of each type of PRV.

Direct Acting (Non-piloted)

Used for small loads where extremely close pressure control is not needed.

Pros: Compact size, low price, easy to install.

Cons: Higher droop (variation from set pressure) than Pilot-operated PRV.

Direct Acting Pressure Reducing Valve

Fig. 2 Delivered steam pressure is regulated by balancing forces acting directly on the valve
itself: the downward force caused by compression of the adjustment spring against the
upward force from the secondary pressure acting against the underside of a bellows or
diaphragm.

Note: The movements in the animation are slowed and exaggerated in order to show the opening and closing
of the valve.

In direct acting pressure reducing valves, the amount of valve opening is determined
directly by the movement of the adjustment spring. If the spring is compressed, it
creates an opening force on the valve which increases flow. As pressure builds
downstream, equalizing occurs by feeding the downstream pressure to the underside
of the adjustment spring (usually against a bellows or diaphragm) where its upward
force counter-balances against the spring compression. Spring compressive force
which opens the valve is limited to allow sufficient spring sensitivity to equalize with
downstream pressure changes. The net result is simple pressure control through a
valve orifice where high flow rates can cause pressure droop.

Pilot-Operated

Used for larger loads where close pressure control is required

Pros: Close pressure control, fast response to load variation, may be used across a
broader range of flow rates than the direct acting types.
Cons: Larger size, higher price.

Pilot-Operated Pressure Reducing Valve

Fig. 3 Delivered steam pressure is regulated in a similar manner as direct acting PRVs,
however indirectly via a pilot valve. As the pilot valve is actuated, it provides the opening
flow to the larger main valve which can supply significantly higher flow rates than the pilot
itself. The pilot valve is then equalized by the secondary pressure, which correspondingly
controls the opening flow to the main valve.

Note: The movements in the animation are slowed and exaggerated in order to show the opening and closing
of the valve.

In pilot-operated pressure reducing valves, a pilot valve is used to load a piston or

diaphragm that increases the downward force used to open a larger main valve. This
enables larger flow capacity with a lower pressure offset (droop). The opening and
closing of the pilot valve is controlled by the balance of force between the adjustment
spring and the secondary pressure in the same manner that a direct-acting valve
operates. However, in a pilot-operated PRV, this opening and closing of the pilot valve
purposely delivers pressure to the main valve piston or diaphragm. This pilot flow
pressure then causes a downward force that is amplified by the area of the piston or
diaphragm to enable opening of a much larger main valve, which in turn provides the
ability for very high flow rates.
Because the downward force is amplified through the use of a piston or diaphragm, a
small change in the opening on the pilot valve can result in a large change in flow and
downstream pressure through the main valve. As a result, there is little change
needed in adjustment spring force on the pilot to accomplish quick response over a
wide range of steam flow rates. Quick response and tight delivered pressure control
represent the main advantages of this type of valve over the direct-acting type.

Summary
From the above characteristics, it can be seen that the function and applications of
non-piloted direct acting PRVs differ substantially from those of pilot-operated PRVs.

In short:

Direct-operated valves are used when loads are small and some downstream
pressure droop may be accepted. They are generally used in light load services.
Pilot-operated pressure reducing valves can respond quickly to varying load
conditions while maintaining stable secondary pressure where precise pressure
control is needed. They are generally intended for larger load applications.

Typical Applications in a Steam-Using Plant:

Small load applications such as sterilizers, unit heaters, humidifiers, and small
process equipment may typically use a simple Direct Acting PRV for pressure
reduction.
In case of larger flows, such as steam distribution piping, loads may fluctuate
greatly depending on the operational status of the recipient equipment. Such load
variations and large capacity would call for the use of a Pilot-operated PRV to
reduce pressure.
Furthermore, the amount of steam used by certain equipment at start-up may
differ significantly from the amount required during normal operation. Such wide
variations may also necessitate the use of a Pilot-operated PRV for pressure
reduction.

Check Valve Installation and

Steam Theory Index
Benefits

Also on TLV.com

COSPECT® - Troublefree Pressure Reducing Valves

Is Your Steam Quality Worse Than You Think?
Steam and Condensate Training Seminars
Engineering Calculator