Tech Sheet #CVR 406

Control Valve Trim Descriptions

Control valves can be used with a variety of fluids, pressures, and capacities. The variations of
these conditions will have an effect on the trim you select in your control valve. Following is a
list of characteristics, types, materials and sizes to help you determine the appropriate trim for
your application.

• Basic Trim Characteristics

o Equal Percentage: For equal increments of valve plug travel, the change in flow
rate with respect to travel may be expressed as a constant percent of the flow rate
at the time of the change. The change in flow rate observed with respect to travel
will be relatively small when the valve plug is near its seat and relatively high
when the valve plug is nearly wide open. This is the preferred valve characteristic
when pressure differential across the valve decreases with increases in flow rate,
such as steam flowing through a control valve to a heat exchanger.
o Linear: Flow capacity or (Cv) increases linearly with valve travel. Flow is directly
proportional to valve travel. This is the preferred valve characteristic for a control
valve that is being used with a distributive control system (DCS) or programmable
logic controller (PLC).
o Quick Opening: Provides maximum change in flow rate at low travels. The
curve is basically linear through the first 40% of travel. It then flattens out
indicating little increase in flow rate as travel approaches the wide-open position.
This decrease occurs when the valve plug travel equals the flow area of the port.
This normally happens when the valve characteristic is used for on/off control.
• Plug Guiding
o Cage Guided: A hollow cylindrical trim element that is sometimes used as a
guide to align the movement of a valve plug with a seat ring. Cv and flow
characteristic are most often determined by openings machined into the wall of
the cage. It can be modified for some valve types to characterize the flow through
the valve. The cage may also act as a noise attenuation or anti-cavitation device.
 Profiled sleeve and/or a profiled plug
 Sleeve guides the plug
o Top Guided (stem guided): A guide bushing closely fitted to the valve stem and
aligned with the seat.
 Profiled plug
 Bushing guides the stem which guides the plug
• Pressure Balanced / Pressure Unbalanced
o Pressure Balanced: A trim arrangement that tends to equalize the pressure above
and below the valve plug to minimize the net static and dynamic fluid flow forces

This Tech Sheet was developed by the members of the Fluid Controls Institute (FCI) Control Valve/Regulator/Solenoid Valve Section. FCI is a trade
association comprising the leading manufacturers of fluid control and conditioning equipment. FCI Tech Sheets are information tools and should not
be used as substitutes for instructions from individual manufacturers. Always consult with individual manufacturers for specific instructions
regarding their equipment.

11/2018 Page 1 of 3 This sheet is reviewed periodically and may be updated. Visit www.fluidcontrolsinstitute.org for the latest version.
 Tech Sheet #CVR 406

acting along the axis of the stem of a globe valve. Some regulators also use this
design, particularly in high pressure service. Cage guided trims may be balanced
or unbalanced.
o Pressure Unbalanced: A trim arrangement in which the pressure above and
below the plug is not equalized. In operation, more axial force is needed to
maintain trim position than would be required in a pressure balanced valve. Top
guided trims are generally unbalanced.
• Trim Types
o “Standard” (parabolic)
 In a standard trim, there is generally only one pressure drop across the
valve.
o Tortuous Flow Path
 This type of trim (perforated by holes or slots as an example) is used to
reduce noise, fight cavitation, etc.
 Anti-Cavitation: A special trim used in control valves to stage the
pressure drop through the valve, which will either prevent the cavitation
from occurring or direct the bubbles that are formed to the center of the
flow stream away from the valve body and trim. This is usually
accomplished by causing the fluid to travel along a torturous path or
through successively smaller orifices, slots, or a combination of both.
• Perforated: A trim design where flow passes through a series of
holes in the plug and/or sleeve. As the plug is lifted, more holes are
exposed, increasing flow. Single stage means flow passes through
one set of holes; multi-stage means flow passes through two or
more sets of holes.
• Slotted to Perforated, but uses slots instead of circular holes.
 Noise Reduction: A special caged trim that utilizes multiple orifices of a
special shape, size, and spacing to minimize noise generated by the flow
of vapor, gas, or steam through a control valve.
• Perforated: A trim design where flow passes through a series of
holes in the plug and/or sleeve. As the plug is lifted, more holes are
exposed, increasing flow. Single stage means flow passes through
one set of holes; multi-stage means flow passes through two or
more sets of holes.
• Trim Materials
o “Standard”: A material that is in its normal state, or reference to the base
material offering of a specific manufacturer. Common materials are 304 and 316
SS.
o Hard Facing: A material that is harder than the surface to which it is applied. It is
normally used to resist fluid erosion or to reduce the chance of galling between

This Tech Sheet was developed by the members of the Fluid Controls Institute (FCI) Control Valve/Regulator/Solenoid Valve Section. FCI is a trade
association comprising the leading manufacturers of fluid control and conditioning equipment. FCI Tech Sheets are information tools and should not
be used as substitutes for instructions from individual manufacturers. Always consult with individual manufacturers for specific instructions
regarding their equipment.

11/2018 Page 2 of 3 This sheet is reviewed periodically and may be updated. Visit www.fluidcontrolsinstitute.org for the latest version.
 Tech Sheet #CVR 406

moving parts. Hard facing may be applied by fusion welding, diffusion, inductive
heating, or spray coating the material. Alloy #6 or Stellite is a common material
used for this purpose.
o Soft Seat: Valve trim with an elastomeric or polymeric material used either in
the valve plug or seat ring to provide tight shutoff with a minimal amount of
actuator force. A soft seated valve will usually provide CLASS VI seat leakage
capability.
• Trim Size
o “Standard” Trim (Full Port): Valve trim that indicates that the internal
diameter of the valve opening is the same as the pipe it is connected to, or
reference to largest port offered by a specific manufacturer.
o Reduced Trim: This trim is an undersized orifice. A reduced or restricted
capacity trim is used for several reasons to include adjusting a large valve to
handle smaller flow requirements, reducing inlet and outlet fluid velocities and
correcting errors in over sizing.
 Micro Trim – Most often for flow capacities less than 0.2, consisting of
matched orifice and plug set.

The preceding is an explanation of various trim characteristics, types, materials, and sizes for
control valves to help you determine the best trim for your application; however, we
recommended that you consult with the control valve manufacturer before making your final
selection.

To view the current list of FCI members, visit the FCI website: fluidcontrolsinstitute.org.

This Tech Sheet was developed by the members of the Fluid Controls Institute (FCI) Control Valve/Regulator/Solenoid Valve Section. FCI is a trade
association comprising the leading manufacturers of fluid control and conditioning equipment. FCI Tech Sheets are information tools and should not
be used as substitutes for instructions from individual manufacturers. Always consult with individual manufacturers for specific instructions
regarding their equipment.

11/2018 Page 3 of 3 This sheet is reviewed periodically and may be updated. Visit www.fluidcontrolsinstitute.org for the latest version.