Pressure Reducing Valves

A pressure reducing valve regulates the flow rate of a process flow based on the operating pressure on the outlet side. The process flow is passed through if the operating pressure is below a manually set value. If the operating pressure is above this value, the process flow will be interrupted. The flow rate does ideally not affect the pressure loss across the pressure reducing valve, provided that it does not exceed the performance limits of the device. In practical applications, however, with the same settings applied, the pressure loss is usually slightly higher at higher flow rates compared to lower ones. Depending on the process medium and on the reduction of the operating pressure, the process media can additionally experience a change in temperature.

Pressure reducing valves can be seen as valves that act entirely mechanically, without an electronic control and without a drive powered by an external force. They can be an economical alternative to control valves, if neither a connection to the process control system is required nor an automated constant interruption of the process flow.