The Dreamax PRV425 is internally piloted piston-operated pressure reducing valves.
It is pilot-controlled for accurate regulation of pressure under widely ranging flow. The internal-pilot design eliminates external components and piping. Internally piloted PRV425 valves are capable of larger capacity and greater accuracy than direct-acting valves. Internally piloted PRV425 valves are rated for dead-end service and have a 20:1 turn down ratio and an accuracy of ±0.5 Bar of set point.
It mainly composed of main valve and pilot valve. The main valve consists of valve seat, main valve disc, piston, cylinder sleeve, and spring. The piston valve consists of valve seat, plug, membrane, spring and adjusting spring. Set the outlet pressure through adjusting spring, sense the change of pressure of outlet with membrane, adjust the flow area of throttling part of main valve through open and close of pilot valve and drive the piston, to realize the function of reducing and regulating valve. The product is mainly applied on steam or fluid piping, to reduce and regulate the pressure.
Completely supported by piping, lightweight PRV425 valves install easily with NPT or flanged connections. A stainless steel diaphragm, hardened stainless steel working parts and integral removable strainer team up to provide higher performance over a long, trouble-free service life.
Valves are equipped with a caged main valve assembly (separate shutoff surfaces and flow-control ports), piston valve rings for longer life, and an external adjusting screw with locking nut and cover. All working parts are renewable in-line.
What is "internally piloted"?
This type of PRV incorporates two valves-a pilot and main valve-in one unit. The pilot valve has a design similar to that of the direct-acting valve. The discharge from the pilot valve acts on top of a piston, which opens the main valve. This design makes use of inlet pressure in opening a large main valve than could otherwise be opened directly. As a result, there is greater capacity per line size and greater accuracy than with the direct-acting valve. As with direct-acting valves, the pressure is sensed internally, eliminating the need for an external sensing line.
Direct Acting (Non-piloted)
Used for small loads where extremely close pressure control is not needed.
Pros: Compact size, low price, easy to install.
Cons: Higher droop (variation from set pressure) than Pilot-operated PRV.
Pilot-Operated (Internally piloted PRV425 series, externally piloted DP143 series)
Used for larger loads where close pressure control is required
Pros: Close pressure control, fast response to load variation, may be used across a broader range of
flow rates than the direct acting types.
Cons: Larger size, higher price.
From the above characteristics, it can be seen that the function and applications of non-piloted direct acting PRVs differ substantially from those of pilot-operated PRVs.
In short:
1. Direct-operated valves are used when loads are small and some downstream pressure droop may be accepted. They are generally used in light load services.
2. Pilot-operated pressure reducing valves can respond quickly to varying load conditions while maintaining stable secondary pressure where precise pressure control is needed. They are generally intended for larger load applications.
Typical Applications in a Steam-Using Plant:
1. Small load applications such as sterilizers, unit heaters, humidifiers, and small process equipment may typically use a simple Direct Acting PRV for pressure reduction.
2. In case of larger flows, such as steam distribution piping, loads may fluctuate greatly depending on the operational status of the recipient equipment. Such load variations and large capacity would call for the use of a Pilot-operated PRV to reduce pressure.
3. Furthermore, the amount of steam used by certain equipment at start-up may differ significantly from the amount required during normal operation. Such wide variations may also necessitate the use of a Pilot-operated PRV for pressure reduction.