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Valves and control valves of various designs and applications are encountered nowadays throughout refining, petrochemical and process industries as well as in power generation and environmental engineering.

This 12H masterclass is designed to provide you with a complete understanding of construction details and functioning of :

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Valves and control valves of various designs and applications are encountered nowadays throughout refining, petrochemical and process industries as well as in power generation and environmental engineering.

This 12H masterclass is designed to provide you with a complete understanding of construction details and functioning of :

  1. Valves (gate, globe, ball, plug, butterfly, diaphragm, needle, check, piston, pinch...)

  2. Control valves (two-port, three-port)

  3. Valve actuators (diaphragm, piston, rack and pinion, scotch yoke...)

  4. Valve positioners

  5. Safety and Pressure Relief Valves

  6. Steam traps (float, thermostatic, thermodynamic, inverted bucket...)

  7. Strainers (wye, basket...)

This understanding is a prerequisite for a successful operation of your plant and piping system.

This 12H masterclass includes extensive graphics, 3D animations and cross-sectional views to give you a virtual practical exposure on valves.

The masterclass is organized into 4 parts :

  • Part I : Valves

  • Part II : Control Valves, actuators and positioners

  • Part III : Sizing and Selection

  • Part IV : Valves in engineering drawings

In Part I, you will :

  • Discover the major types of valves used in the process industry

  • Learn their components, their function & their operation

  • Have the opportunity to dismantle many valves and assemble them using 3D models, cross-sectional views and 3D animations

In Part II, you will find valuable insights into the working principles and construction details of the following equipment:

  • Control valves (sliding stem and rotary / fast opening, linear and equal percentage)

  • Mixing and diverting 3-port control valves

  • Diaphragm actuators ("air-to-push-up" and "air-to-push-down")

  • Piston actuators (Single Acting and Double Acting / Fail Open (FO) and Fail Closed (FC))

  • Rack-and-pinion actuators (Single Acting and Double Acting / Fail Open (FO) and Fail Closed (FC))

  • Scotch Yoke actuators (Single Acting and Double Acting / Fail Open (FO) and Fail Closed (FC))

  • Pneumatic positioners (force balance, motion balance)

  • Digital positioners

  • I/P converters

  • ...

The course then proceeds through a series of process examples and solved problems that require you to:

  • Dismantle and assemble various types of control valves and actuators using 3D and 2D models

  • Identify the net effect of various control valve/actuator assemblies (direct acting, reverse acting, fail open, fail close...)

  • Convert an actuator from Single Acting to Double Acting configuration and vice versa

  • Convert a control valve/actuator assembly from a Fail Closed (FC) to a Fail Open (FA) configuration and vice versa

  • Construct the installation curve for a control valve

  • Determine flowrate and pressure drop through control valves for different valve lifts

  • Match the valve characteristics to the given application

  • Examine the effect of selecting a control valve larger than necessary

  • Examine the effect of differential pressure on the valve lift and actuator operation

  • Determine when a positioner should be fitted

  • ...

This will help you develop the necessary skills to ensure your process plant and piping systems run smoothly.

Part III Sizing & Selection is designed around a series of practical examples which we work through to a solution. This valuable part of the course is an essential guide to understanding the valve sizing procedure.

In this section, we will present a step-by-step sizing methodology. We will show you how to proceed in the sizing of a valve in the daily practice, how to determine the flow coefficient (Cv) when selecting a control valve size, how to predict the maximum flow rate that a selected valve will pass or how to determine the pressure differential that a selected valve will exhibit...

You will learn from our industrial experience what we wrongly calculated during project startup, debottlenecking and commissioning.

This should undoubtedly help you minimize the mistakes in the sizing and selection of your valves.

Included in this course is access to a valuable Valve Sizing Excel Spreadsheet. This tool will help you perform all the calculations that we will discuss further ahead in the course. It has all the sizing equations, numerical constants and other parameters built right in.

Next in Part IV, we will introduce you to valve symbols and valve representations in engineering drawings, such as Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs').

Standards and conventions that apply to valves and their accessories will be discussed in details. You will learn how valve status and valve failure modes are depicted in engineering drawings.

Lastly, we have included in this masterclass a technical quiz (500+ questions) to help you test your knowledge and emphasize the key learning points.

The quiz includes:

  • True/False questions

  • Multi-choice questions

  • Images, cross-sectional views

  • Solved problems

  • And much more...

So when you think you’ve got a good grasp on a topic within the course, you can test your knowledge by taking the quiz. If you pass, wonderful . If not, you can review the videos and notes again or ask us for help in the Q&A section.

We promise you that even though this is a technical course, you can watch it easily, without pain, but with comprehension, and that after completing it, you won't be an experienced design engineer or instrument technician but you will be prepared to become one if that is what you like and persist to be.

Thank you again for your interest in our online courses. It is a privilege to serve you and make sure that you're learning valuable information with us.

WR Training

Spread the wings of your knowledge

ABOUT THE VALVE SIZING  It presents formulae and data for :

  1. Valve flow coefficients Cv

  2. Flow of fluids through valves

  3. Pressure drop through valves and attached fittings

  4. Valve Reynolds Number calculations

  5. Predicting maximum flow through valves in choked conditions

  6. Representative values of valve capacity factors

  7. And much more...

The spreadsheet includes two worksheets :

  1. Sizing for liquids (incompressible fluids)

    • Non vaporizing flow conditions

    • Choked flow conditions

  2. Sizing for vapors and gases (compressible fluids)

Upon enrolling in, expand the last section " Under the lecture "Download me", click on the folder "Resources" => A list of downloadable files will appear

3. Click on the "Valve Sizing Spreadsheet" file

4. A download window will pop-up. Select the location where you want to save the Excel file

5. Once downloaded and saved on your computer, you can start using this valuable Workbook

Macros must be enabled for them to work

In no event shall the Copyright owner or contributors be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services, loss of use, data, or profits, or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this spreadsheet, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand valves and control valves working principles for successful operation of your plant and piping systems
  • Understand valve construction details (bonnet, stem, disk, seat, packing, body, etc)
  • Know the characteristics and applications for each valve type (ball, plug, gate, pinch, butterfly, diaphragm, check, needle...)
  • Know how to choose the correct valve for a certain application
  • Know how to dismantle and assemble all types of valves using 3d and 2d models
  • Identify and know the principles of operation of common valve actuators (pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical, etc)
  • Understand how single acting and double acting pneumatic actuators work through graphics and 3d animations
  • Understand the principle of fail open (fo) and fail close (fc) actuators
  • Know how to convert a single acting spring return actuator to a double acting actuator and vice versa
  • Know how to convert a fail close actuator to a fail open actuator and vice versa
  • Be more innovative in your solutions to valve and control valve problems
  • Have an organized approach to the procedure of valve sizing in accordance with the ansi & isa recommendations
  • Be able to size valves for any flow conditions likely to be found in a process plant
  • Have a general notion about the confidence to be placed in the sizing result conclusions
  • Understand safety valve manufacturers’ literature better and understand their jargon
  • Become more aware of the potential benefits and pitfalls of the currently available safety valve technology
  • Understand the concept of "air-to-push-up" and air-to-push-down"
  • Understand the concept of "direct-acting" and "reverse-acting"
  • Understand the concept of valve flow coefficient "cv" and familiarize yourself with the various units
  • Know how to determine flowrate and pressure drop through control valves for different valve lifts
  • Know how to match the valve characteristics to the process
  • Know how to construct the installation curve for a given control valve
  • Understand the effect of selecting a control valve larger than necessary
  • Understand the effect of differential pressure on the valve lift and actuator operation
  • Differentiate between fast opening, linear and equal percentage valve characteristics
  • Understand how valve positioners operate
  • Know the different types of valve positioners (p/p, i/p, force balance, motion balance, digital…)
  • Understand when a positioner should be fitted
  • Understand the working principles of i/p converters and how they are used in control valves
  • Put your knowledge to the test at the end of each section with a valuable technical quiz (500+ questions and solved problems)
  • Download our valuable valve sizing excel spreadsheet (included in this course free of charge)
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

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Valves functions and basic parts
Valves functions and basic parts: Learning objectives
Read more
Introduction
Valve body
Valve bonnet
Valve trim
Disk and seat
Stem
Valve actuator
Valve packing
Introduction to the types of valves
Before you proceed to the next section
Test your knowledge
Types of valves
Types of valves: Learning objectives
Gate valves
Gate valves : 3D dismantling
Gate valves : 2D dismantling
Gate valves : Disk design
Gate valves : Stem design
Gate valves : Seat design
Globe valves
Globe valves : 3D dismantling
Globe valves : 2D dismantling
Globe valves : Z-body design
Globe valves : Y-body design
Globe valves : Angle design
Globe valves : Disk design
Globe valves : Disk - Stem connections
Globe valves : Seat design
Globe valves : Direction of flow
Ball valves
Ball valves : Components
Ball valves : 3D dismantling
Ball valves : 2D dismantling
Ball valves : Actuators
Ball valves : Pros & Cons
Ball Valves : Port pattern
Ball valves : Valve materials
Ball valves : Stem design
Ball valves : Valve position
Plug valves
Plug valves : Valve components
Plug valves : 3D dismantling
Plug valves : 2D dismantling
Plug valves : Numerous designs
Plug valves : Plug designs
Plug valves : Multiport plug designs
Plug valves : Lubricated design
Plug valves : Non-Lubricated design
Plug valves : Gland design
Diaphragm valves
Diaphragm valves : 3D dismantling
Diaphragm valves : 2D dismantling
Diaphragm valves : Straight through & weir types
Diaphragm valves : Diaphragm construction
Diaphragm valves : Bonnet design
Pinch valves
Pinch valves : Body design
Butterfly valves
Butterfly valves : 3D dismantling
Butterfly valves : Seat design
Butterfly valves : Disk & Stem assembly
Needle valves
Needle valves : 3D dismantling
Needle valves : Valve applications
Needle valves : Body design
Needle valves : Stem packing
Check valves
Check valves : Swing
Swing check valves : 3D dismantling
Swing check valves : 2D dismantling
Assembling a swing check valve - 3D model
Tilting disk check valves
Lift check valves
Lift check valves : 3D dismantling
Lift check valves : 2D dismantling
Piston check valves
Butterfly check valves
Stop check valves
Safety and Pressure Relief Valves - Design fundamentals
Pressure Relief Valves: Introduction
Types of devices
Useful terminologies
Relief and Safety valves
Safety valves
Safety valves : Pressure setting
Safety valves : 3D dismantling
Safety valves : 2D dismantling
Relief valves
Relief valves : Valve operation in 2D cross-sectional view
Relief valves : 3D dismantling
Relief valves : 2D dismantling
More on spring loaded design
More on spring loaded design : 3D animation
Material of construction

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Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Valve & Control Valve Masterclass: Design Selection & Sizing with these activities:
Review Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals
Solidify your understanding of fluid mechanics principles, which are essential for valve sizing and understanding flow characteristics.
Browse courses on Fluid Mechanics
Show steps
  • Review key concepts like pressure, flow rate, and viscosity.
  • Work through practice problems related to fluid flow in pipes.
  • Familiarize yourself with Bernoulli's equation and its applications.
Read 'Piping Handbook' by Mohinder L. Nayyar
Supplement your knowledge with a comprehensive guide to piping systems, including detailed information on valves.
View Piping Databook on Amazon
Show steps
  • Focus on chapters related to valve types, selection, and sizing.
  • Review sections on pressure drop calculations and flow characteristics.
  • Take notes on key concepts and formulas for future reference.
Valve Sizing Calculations Practice
Reinforce your understanding of valve sizing by working through a series of practical calculation problems.
Show steps
  • Gather example problems from textbooks or online resources.
  • Use the course's Excel spreadsheet to perform calculations.
  • Compare your results with solutions to identify areas for improvement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Explore Online Valve Actuator Tutorials
Enhance your understanding of valve actuators by watching online tutorials and demonstrations.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on different types of valve actuators (pneumatic, hydraulic, electric).
  • Pay attention to the working principles and maintenance procedures.
  • Take notes on key takeaways and best practices.
Valve Selection Report for a Hypothetical System
Apply your knowledge by creating a detailed report outlining the selection process for valves in a specific system.
Show steps
  • Define the requirements of the hypothetical system (flow rate, pressure, fluid type).
  • Research and compare different valve types based on these requirements.
  • Justify your valve selections with calculations and technical specifications.
  • Document your findings in a well-structured report.
Read 'Control Valves: Practical Guides for Measurement and Control' by Guy Borden
Deepen your understanding of control valves with a practical guide covering selection, sizing, and application.
Show steps
  • Focus on chapters related to control valve characteristics and performance.
  • Review sections on actuator selection and positioner tuning.
  • Take notes on key considerations for control valve implementation.
Create a Valve Standards and Specifications Compilation
Compile a collection of relevant valve standards and specifications for future reference.
Show steps
  • Research and gather relevant standards from organizations like ANSI, ISA, and API.
  • Organize the standards by valve type and application.
  • Summarize key requirements and specifications for each standard.

Career center

Learners who complete Valve & Control Valve Masterclass: Design Selection & Sizing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Piping Engineer
A Piping Engineer designs and oversees the installation of piping systems, ensuring they meet safety and performance standards. This course offers a complete understanding of valve construction details and functioning, which is essential for anyone working with piping systems. It goes beyond basic knowledge and delves into valve types like gate, globe, ball, and butterfly valves, as well as safety and pressure relief valves. A Piping Engineer needs to understand all these, and this course will help provide that understanding through extensive graphics, 3D animations and cross-sectional views.
Process Engineer
The role of a Process Engineer involves designing, implementing, controlling, and optimizing industrial processes. This requires a strong understanding of valves and control valves, as covered in this course. Understanding how to size valves and selecting the right valve for the job is super important. The course provides insights into valve actuators, positioners, and even includes a Valve Sizing Excel Spreadsheet making it immensely helpful. Process Engineers will find the section on valves in engineering drawings particularly relevant, as it covers standards and conventions used in P&IDs.
Instrumentation Technician
Instrumentation Technicians install, maintain, and repair instruments and control systems. This course offers a comprehensive understanding of control valves, actuators, and positioners, which are critical components in instrumentation systems. The course helps you develop skills to diagnose and solve valve related problems, and the extensive technical quiz can help you test your knowledge regarding real-world applications. An Instrumentation Technician may find the sections on pneumatic and digital positioners along with I/P converters highly relevant to their daily tasks.
Control Systems Engineer
Control Systems Engineers design and implement systems that automate and control industrial processes. This course provides a solid understanding of control valves, actuators, and positioners, which are essential components in any control loop. The course covers topics such as valve characteristics, flow rate determination, and the effect of differential pressure, all of which are key considerations in control system design. Aspiring Control Systems Engineers can also test their knowledge with the technical quiz to emphasize key learning points.
Mechanical Engineer
A Mechanical Engineer is involved in the design, development, and testing of mechanical devices and systems. If this involves working in process plants, it is necessary to know and understand valves and control valves of various designs and applications. By taking this course, mechanical engineers will gain knowledge of valve construction details, applications for each valve type, valve actuators, and will know how to choose the correct valve for a certain application. This will help them be more innovative in their solutions to valve and control valve problems.
Plant Engineer
Plant Engineers manage and maintain equipment and systems in industrial facilities. This course provides a complete understanding of valves and control valves, essential for ensuring smooth plant operations. The course covers valve types, actuators, positioners, and includes a valuable Valve Sizing Excel Spreadsheet. The lessons on valve symbols and representations in engineering drawings are particularly useful for Plant Engineers who often work with P&IDs. This knowledge ensures efficient troubleshooting and maintenance of plant systems.
Reliability Engineer
Reliability Engineers focus on improving the reliability and maintainability of equipment and systems. This course may be useful for Reliability Engineers as it covers the construction details and functioning of various valves, control valves, and actuators. The course also touches on safety and pressure relief valves and steam traps, crucial for maintaining system reliability. This course may provide a broad overview of valve technology, helping Reliability Engineers make informed decisions about maintenance and replacement strategies.
Project Engineer
Project Engineers manage and coordinate engineering projects from start to finish. While they may not be valve specialists, understanding the basics of valve technology covered in this course can be beneficial when overseeing projects involving piping systems or process equipment. The material on valve sizing and selection can help a Project Engineer better understand the cost and performance trade-offs when making engineering decisions. This course may also assist in communicating effectively with specialized engineers on the project team.
Maintenance Supervisor
Maintenance Supervisors oversee maintenance activities and ensure equipment is properly maintained. This course may be useful for Maintenance Supervisors who need a better understanding of the valves and control valves their teams are working on. The course's visual aids, like 3D animations and cross-sectional views, can help illustrate the inner workings of valves and actuators. By understanding the purpose of each sub-component, a Maintenance Supervisor can better troubleshoot issues and make sure maintenance work is done correctly.
Quality Control Inspector
Quality Control Inspectors ensure that products and processes meet specified standards. If their area of focus involves valves or piping systems, the knowledge gained from this course can be beneficial. The course covers the construction details and functioning of various valve types, which can help a Quality Control Inspector identify potential defects or deviations from specifications. While this course may not cover all aspects of quality control, the visual aids and practical examples can make the learning process more accessible.
Process Safety Engineer
Process Safety Engineers work to prevent accidents and incidents in industrial processes. Specifically, this course may be useful since it focuses on safety and pressure relief valves. An understanding of their design, function, and maintenance is crucial for anyone working in process safety. This course may provide a foundation in valve technology, enabling Process Safety Engineers to make informed decisions about safety system design and risk management.
Estimator
An Estimator calculates the cost of materials, labor, and equipment for construction or engineering projects. For projects involving piping systems or process plants, this course may provide background knowledge on the various types of valves and their applications. Understanding the basics of valve technology can help an Estimator make more accurate cost projections for valve-related components. This course may prove useful for those starting out as estimators so that they can begin to develop professional knowledge.
Technical Sales Representative
Technical Sales Representatives sell technical products and services to industrial clients. For those selling valves, actuators, or related equipment, this course may be helpful in understanding the technical aspects of their products. Detailed knowledge about valve construction, operation, sizing, and selection will enable Technical Sales Representatives to better communicate with engineers and other technical professionals. This course may enable them to demonstrate a deeper understanding of customer needs, and can improve credibility.
CAD Designer
CAD Designers create technical drawings and models using computer-aided design software. While this course does not focus on CAD skills, the information on valve symbols and representations in engineering drawings may be helpful for CAD Designers working on piping and instrumentation diagrams. Understanding the conventions used in P&IDs can improve the accuracy and clarity of technical drawings. This course may provide a valuable supplement to their core CAD training.
Technical Writer
Technical Writers create documentation for technical products and processes. The detailed technical information contained within this course may be useful as a reference for someone writing about valves, actuators, or related equipment. By understanding the construction, operation, sizing, and selection of valves, a Technical Writer can create more accurate and informative documentation. This is a complex field, and this course may provide a foundation of knowledge.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Valve & Control Valve Masterclass: Design Selection & Sizing.
This handbook comprehensive resource for piping system design, engineering, and operation. It covers a wide range of topics, including valve selection, sizing, and installation. It serves as a valuable reference for understanding industry standards and best practices. provides in-depth knowledge beyond the course material.
Provides a practical guide to control valve selection, sizing, and application. It covers various control valve types, actuators, and positioners. It valuable resource for understanding the practical aspects of control valve implementation. This book is useful for those seeking to apply the knowledge gained in the course to real-world scenarios.

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