Pressure Control Valve vs Flow Control Valve: Core Differences and Industrial Selection Guide

-

 Pressure Control Valve vs Flow Control Valve: Core Differences and Industrial Selection Guide

——Accurate decision-making framework for matching fluid system requirements


1、 Basic definition and core functions

1. Pressure Control Valve

Core function: Maintain or limit the pressure value of the fluid system to prevent overpressure or underpressure.


Typical type:


Pressure reducing valve: Reduce the inlet high pressure to the set outlet pressure (such as from 10MPa to 2MPa).


Safety valve/relief valve: Automatically discharge the medium when overpressure occurs (with a burst pressure accuracy of ± 2%).


Back pressure valve: Maintain stable back pressure in the pipeline (commonly used in chemical reactors).


2. Flow Control Valve

Core function: Accurately regulate fluid flow and decouple from pressure changes.


Typical type:


Throttle valve: restricts flow through a variable orifice (minimum controllable flow rate of 0.1L/min).


Proportional flow valve: electrical signal control opening (repeat accuracy ≤ 1%).


Flow distribution valve: Multi branch flow is distributed proportionally (commonly used in agricultural irrigation systems).


2、 Design differences and working principles

Parameter pressure control valve flow control valve

Control target pressure to be constant, flow rate to be constant or adjusted as needed

Structural characteristics: Spring diaphragm combination or pilot design, precision orifice/slide valve

Response speed in milliseconds (emergency pressure relief scenario) in seconds (dynamic balancing required)

Typical pressure difference range: 0.1-42MPa, 0.05-20MPa

3、 Materials and Certification Standards

Material selection of Chinese manufacturers

Pressure control valve:


High voltage scenario: forged steel (A105/F316), chromium molybdenum alloy (temperature resistance 540 ° C).


Corrosive medium: Hastelloy C276, titanium material (seawater desalination system).


Flow control valve:


Precision components: ceramic valve core (hardness ≥ 90HRC), PTFE seal.


Economic solution: Nickel plating on brass (for drinking water systems).


international certification

Leading Chinese manufacturers (such as Zhejiang Ouxi Valve Co., Ltd.) hold:


API 6D (Standard for Oil and Gas Pipeline Valves)


ISO 15848 (Low Leakage Certification)


CE/PED (European Union Pressure Equipment Directive)


4、 Comparison of typical application scenarios

Applicable scenarios for pressure control valves

Petrochemical industry: Stable pressure maintenance of reaction kettle (accuracy ± 0.1bar).


Power industry: Boiler safety pressure relief (burst pressure 42MPa).


Water treatment: Pipe network pressure reduction (inlet 10MPa → outlet 4MPa).


Applicable scenarios for flow control valves

Pharmaceutical industry: precise control of liquid filling flow (error ≤± 1%).


HVAC system: refrigerant distribution (flow regulation ratio 10:1).


Agricultural machinery: precision irrigation (adjustable from 5-200L/min).


5、 Guidelines for Key Parameter Selection

Key points for selecting pressure control valves

Maximum working pressure: It needs to be 20% higher than the peak pressure of the system.


Set pressure range: adjustable from 0.5-10MPa.


Leakage level: Class IV (ANSI/FCI 70-2 standard).


Key points for selecting flow control valves

Flow range: such as 0.5-500L/min.


Control accuracy: Proportional valve repeatability ≤ ± 0.5%.


Cv value: characterizes the flow capacity of the valve (associated with pressure difference).


6、 Recommended by China's leading manufacturers

Pressure control valve supplier

Yongjia Goole Valve Co., Ltd.


Core product: Pilot operated pressure reducing valve (outlet pressure stability ± 2%).


Export markets: Middle East oil field projects, European chemical plants.


authentication: API 6D、ISO 9001。


Zhejiang Linuo Fluid Control Technology Co., Ltd.


Featured technology: Ultra high pressure nitrogen pressure reducing valve (inlet pressure 100MPa).


Customized service: Supports non-standard sizes (DN6 – DN500).


Flow control valve supplier

Ningbo Sanhua Automatic Control Components Co., Ltd.


Industry status: The global market share of refrigeration valve components exceeds 35%.


Innovative product: Digital flow regulating valve (RS485 communication interface).


Shanghai Hugong Electric (Group) Co., Ltd.


Technical highlight: High frequency proportional valve (response time<10ms).


Application case: Hydraulic system of construction machinery (Sany Heavy Industry, XCMG supply chain).


7、 Maintenance and cost optimization strategies

Pressure valve maintenance:


Regularly calibrate the spring preload force (once a year).


Check for fatigue cracks in the diaphragm (the high-pressure valve is disassembled and inspected every 5000 hours).


Flow valve maintenance:


Clean the throttle hole (to prevent particle blockage).


Lubricate the valve stem with food grade silicone grease twice a year.


Cost comparison:


Pressure control valve:

fifty

–

50-5000 per unit (depending on pressure rating).


Flow control valve:

twenty

–

20-3000 per unit (with higher prices for proportional valves).


8、 Future Trends in the Industry

Intelligence: Integrated pressure/flow sensors (such as IoT valves from Wujiang Senwei Valve Co., Ltd.).


Energy saving design: Low leakage valve (compliant with ISO 15848 Class AH).


Modular: Quickly replace valve core design (reducing maintenance time by 70%).


9、 Get customized solutions immediately

Click to visit our intelligent valve selection platform, and you will receive:

✅  Online selection tool: Input operating parameters and automatically match the best valve model.

✅  Real time quotation system: Transparent inquiry of direct supply prices from Chinese factories.

✅  Technical White Paper Download: "Industrial Fluid Control Valve Selection Standard Manual".


By accurately matching pressure and flow control requirements, Chinese valve manufacturers have become the preferred global procurement choice with high cost-effectiveness (30-50% lower than European and American brands) and fast response (7-day sample delivery). Take immediate action to optimize the efficiency of your fluid system!


评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

All About Gate Valves

-
图片
  A wedge type gate valve. Image credit: al7/ Shutterstock.com Gate valves, or sluice valves, are mainly used to block or permit fluid flow through pipes. They are not good at regulating flow for which other valve designs, such as globe valves, are better suited. Ball valves are another on/off valve type unsuited to throttling.  Gate valves  offer a size advantage over these other types in terms of how much space must be allotted between pipe flanges to accommodate the valve. For information on other types of valves, please see our Valves Buyers Guide. Valve design Gate valves consist of three major portions, the valve body and seats, the gate (or disc) and stem, and the packing and bonnet. In operation, the body and seats remain stationary while the threaded stem rotates to lift the gate off its seats. Stem rotation is accomplished manually through a handwheel or automatically via a valve actuator. The bonnet houses the disc while the valve is open and provides a lo...
阅读全文

How to Identification of BSPP,BSPT, NPT threads?

-
图片
  How to Identification of BSPP,BSPT, NPT threads? When you choose valves and pipe fittings , thread is a very important feature you have to consider. No matter how well the product is made, a wrong thread type will make it useless. You have to determine the thread type before you order. British Standard Pipe fittings are among the most popular of all foreign threads in the world today. These threads come in two versions: parallel (BSPP), and tapered (BSPT). The thread flank angle for both tapered and parallel British threads is 55°. Although BSP is a foreign thread, it isn’t actually metric. This is why it comes in Imperial sizes: 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, etc. BSP parallel (BSPP) threads commonly seal via a 30° chamfer on the male thread to a 30° cone seat inside the female thread (swivel only). If it is a port application, an O-ring and washer, Elastomeric seal or a bonded washer are needed to achieve a proper seal for parallel threads. For tapered BSP threads (BSPT), a seal is accomp...
阅读全文

A reliable source for Ball Valve information and leading China Ball Valve Companies & Manufacturers.

-
图片
  Ball Valves A valve is a device that controls, regulates, or directs the flow of a fluid, by closing, opening, or partially obstructing one or more passageways. Ball valves are a type of quarter turn valve that controls flow. They serve as more effective alternatives to similar valves, like butterfly valves and gate valves.  Note that ball valves are not the same thing as “ball check valves.” While the two have similar names, ball check valves are designed differently and serve a different purpose. Applications The goal of ball valves is to regulate fluid flow. They can do so in a number of ways. They can regulate some types of low flow valves, provide backflow prevention for valves with a swing check component, isolate systems, and provide gear operators with complete shut-off capabilities. Because they are available with either manual or motorized controls, ball valves can provide their services to applications in a wide variety of settings. Mostly, ball valves are used fo...
阅读全文