Valves are an integral part of various industries worldwide, and those who work with this equipment understand the complexity and multitude of choices involved. In addition to valves, an actuator is required to operate the valve, serving as the energy source that converts energy into mechanical motion, which is then transferred to the valve itself. This training course aims to demystify all aspects related to valves and actuators, guiding delegates through the critical decision-making processes involved, from selection to installation and beyond. It emphasizes the importance of considering valves and actuators as components within a larger system, rather than in isolation, where they are expected to perform optimally. By the end of the course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of valves and actuators and will be equipped to navigate the intricacies associated with these devices.

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

· Differentiating between the different types of valves available, and focusing on their advantages and disadvantages

· Developing a system, using the specific actuators that will provide the greatest benefit, based on their individual advantages and disadvantages

· Selecting the appropriate additional equipment (and, combinations of equipment, where necessary)

· Learning to take any installation from the specification and selection process, right through to installation and maintenance phases

· Sizing valves correctly, whilst identifying and gaining familiarity with ANSI / DIN pipe sizes and pressure ratings

Who Should Attend?

This course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

Instrumentation technicians and engineers
Process engineers
Maintenance personnel (specifically, from those fields closely associated with the equipment)
Supervisory personnel
Mechanical engineers
Design staff
Representatives from the health and safety departments
Engineers in other disciplines
People from a financial background, who have an interest in cost containment, by using the most effective devices available
Management and senior management staff

Course Outlines:

Valve Basics - What happens inside the Valve from a Process Point of View, Valve Types and Associated Hardware

Valve purposes, principles, flow conditions and operation
Signals, pressure drops, flow profiles and Reynolds numbers
Cv, choked flow and flashing and cavitation
The requirements, classification and selected associated hardware for valves and actuators
The operation, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of an assortment of different types of valves, including cage, split-body, globe, needle, angled, y-styled, 3-way, pinch, gate (including slab gate and expending gate), choke, check (including rubber duck-bill, tilting disc & swing), single-vs double-seated, and balanced valves

A Continuation of Valve Types, Associated Equipment and Characteristics

The operation, as advantages and disadvantages of an assortment of different types of valves not covered on Day 1 (including butterfly, ball, rotary plug, diaphragm, ARV / ARC, Bellow sealed (both forged and welded), breathe / vacuum release, orbit, pressure seal, fixed cone and annular valves
Miscellaneous equipment, closely associated with valves and actuators
P&ID diagrams (using valves) and valve seat leakage rates
Characteristics associated with valves
Inherent versus installed characteristics

Manual and Software Valve Sizing, Actuators, and Positioners, Trims and Maintenance

Manually sizing a valve
Sizing a valve, using software from manufacturers
Actuators, bench setting, and valve positioners
Cavitation and noise trims and valve material selection
Valve maintenance, fault finding, dead band and stiction

Pressure Relief, SIS, Valve Action, Combinations, Terminology, Codes, and Standards

Pressure relief devices and the limitation of safety relief valves
Valves associated with safety instrumented systems
Valve action (fail-safe), ANSI / DN pipe sizes and applicable pressure ratings
Optimizing valve-actuator combinations for various applications, terminology used, and valve and actuator maintenance aspects and issues
Codes and standards as well as piping & installation guidelines

Using Control Valves in an Assortment of Control Strategies

PID and loop tuning strategies
Feedback, feedforward, cascade and ratio control
Dealing with long-dead times
Non-linear control valve applications

Valve control, using a specialized controller such as a PLC

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