Investigation on Flow Characteristics and Stability of Control Valves for Steam Turbines

Through-flow capability and flow stability of some steam turbine control valves were studied by experimental investigation and numerical simulation. Based on the analysis of thermodynamic process in control valve, the relationship of flow coefficient, area ratio of valve outlet section to seat diameter section, pressure ratio and total pressure loss coefficient was deduced, and the expression of polytropic exponent was obtained. The relative deviations between formula results and experimental results are within 3%. Both expressions can be used for design and optimization to determine control valve parameters quantitatively. The results of 3D numerical simulation indicate that the topological structure of flow fields in all control valves is similar. The results of valve stability show that the airflow force acted on the valve disc depends on the vortex strength of flow around valve stem bush and valve disc, the asymmetric transonic impinging jet under the valve disc and the diffusing action. The valve operates steadily when the inlet and outlet Mach number are less than 0.15. As the unload degree is about 85%, stem vibrates at the operating conditions when pressure ratio is less than 0.8 and opening ratio is from 10% to 18%. A multihole annular orifice can make flow steady at all operating conditions.