Control Valves & Actuators
How control valves and their actuators turn a controller's signal into real process change: body styles, fail-safe action, positioners, flow characteristics, sizing, and the diagnostics that keep the final control element healthy. For instrument technicians, operators and engineers in process plants.
51m
Total time
4
Competency levels
12
Lessons
What you'll learn
- Explain the role of the control valve as the final control element in a control loop
- Compare globe, ball and butterfly valve bodies and match each to a typical service
- Describe actuator types and justify a fail-open or fail-closed choice from the process safety consequence
- Explain what positioners and I/P converters do and how the inherent flow characteristic affects control
- Recognise the symptoms of oversizing, cavitation, flashing and noise, and their impact on control quality
- Bench-stroke a valve safely and interpret basic diagnostic results such as stroke tests and valve signatures
Curriculum
Progress through each competency level in order.
1
Awareness
- 2mThe Final Control ElementKnowledge
- 2mValve Body Styles and Where They FitKnowledge
- 7mAwareness Check: Valves and BodiesAssessment
2
Knowledge
- 2mActuators and Fail-Safe ActionKnowledge
- 2mPositioners, I/P Conversion and Flow CharacteristicsKnowledge
- 8mKnowledge Check: Actuators, Fail Action and CharacteristicsAssessment
3
Skill
- 3mSizing, Cv and the Bad Actors: Cavitation, Flashing and NoiseKnowledge
- 3mValve Walkdown and Bench-Stroke ExerciseAssignment
- 8mSkill Check: Sizing, Damage Mechanisms and StrokingAssessment
4
Mastery
- 3mValve Diagnostics and Performance TroubleshootingKnowledge
- 3mLead a Control Valve Health ReviewAssignment
- 8mMastery Assessment: Diagnostics and JudgementAssessment
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