28 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk October/November 2023 Process, Controls & Plant Focus on: Pumps & Valves deionized water was very low, at 0.5 μS, the value of the softened water was very high, around 600 μS. Without modulating the softened water flow, the resulting conductivity level after blending the media would be far higher than the objective of 10 μS. Bürkert advised that instead of regulating the flow of deionised water, by controlling the softened water, the desired conductivity level could be reached. Get it right first time Switching the position of the control valve and resizing it accordingly enabled the integrator’s system to achieve the low, 10 μS water conductivity rating for their customer. Without assistance in making the correct calculation, the customer would have integrated a much larger – and much more expensive – control valve. Most significantly, the system would have been far less likely to have produced the desired quality of water. Had the system designer engaged with valve sizing and application expertise at the outset, they would also have avoided rework in design, instead achieving a faster time to market. Although this example demonstrates specific implications of incorrect specification, the same principles apply for any application that requires control valve modulation. The fundamental calculations to ensure correct control valve sizing are essential whatever the purpose and sector, from food & beverage, to pharmaceutical and life sciences. A crucial aspect for optimum sizing of control valves is achieving valid application input data. If the input application data is incorrect, or incomplete, then the type, position, and size of the control valve will be sub-optimal. While specifiers can make mistakes in calculations, valve specification errors can also have historic origins. If the original system wasn’t designed according to the right data, like-for-like replacement will also be sub-optimal. As technology has advanced, valves today are frequently more accurate, impacting open and close rates, and this means that smaller, less expensive valves can potentially be used instead. So, even when upgrading an existing system, the best practice is to recalculate control valve sizing each time. Valve sizing Bürkert’s process valve sizing tool, comprising control valve selection, helps designers and specifiers configure the right specification through a sequential set of application criteria. This tool helps to make control valve selection fast and simple, however, it’s imperative to remember that valve specification depends on valid input data. Moreover, when used in an application like conductivity blending, Bürkert has additional internal tools to determine whether a complete system could achieve the desired outcome. The surest way to achieve optimised valve specification, first time, is to involve a flow control specialist as early as possible in the process. Sharing access to details on the wider application enables an experienced valve provider to make an accurate specification based on all of the relevant criteria. This process might involve challenging the input data, but in so doing, a more effective outcome can be achieved. E-learning Classroom based “Live” webinars On-site courses Tailored op琀ons For more informa琀on call 0121 601 6691 scan code for the training guide or email: training@bpma.org.uk Independent Pump Training from
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