Control valve noise prediction equations

-Prof. Poonam Patil

Instrumentation Department

Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai

The predicted control valve exit noise can easily be calculated
according to the international standard, IEC 60534-8-3, by a control
valve user without knowing details of the valve trim.
For standard valves
1) 𝐿𝑝0 = 20log (40∆𝑃𝐶𝑣√𝑥𝑇 ) + 𝐿𝑥 + 𝐿𝑘
Lp0 is dBA at 4feet downstream and 3 feet away from the
observer.
2) 𝐿𝑥 = 20𝑥0.45
For line of sight valve and standard Globe valve

𝐿𝑥 = 𝑒3.5(𝑥−0.5) , for standard inline diffuser 𝑥𝑇 = 0.5

4 𝐷
3) 𝐿 𝑘 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { 𝜋 (𝐷−2𝑡)2(𝐷+72)}
D is the pipe outer diameter
t is the thickness of pipe in inches
4) Distance effect
𝑟
𝐿𝑝 = 𝐿 𝑝 0 − 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( )
𝑟0
Where 𝑟0=3feet

5) Adding sources
𝐿 𝑝1 𝐿 𝑃2 𝐿 𝑝3 𝐿 𝑝𝑛
𝐿𝑝 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 ( 10 10 + 10 10 + 10 10 + ⋯+ 10 10 )

Where, 𝐿𝑝1, 𝐿𝑝2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐿 𝑝𝑛 are noise values of several noises at the
location.
6) For in-line diffuser.
When a diffuser is used after the valve, it becomes necessary to
select an inter-stage pressure to get optimum results the
objective is to minimise the noise and also the cost.
If dividing the pressure drop between the valve and diffuser too
much is allotted to the diffuser then the valve size must be
increased. If too little is allotted to the diffuser, the noise level
may not be reduced enough. Usually several trials are required
to approach the optimum results.
𝑥 𝑞
𝐹𝑘𝑥𝑇 𝑞𝑇

0.53 0.90
0.45 0.86
0.40 0.82
0.35 0.72
𝑥𝑇 is terminal value 𝑞 𝑇 is valve choked
of 𝑥 beyond which flow
choked flow occurs.

𝑥
If 𝑤𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟 = 0.53 ,
𝐹𝑘𝑥𝑇
x=0.53
𝑞
xT
= 0.9, q= 90%of q
T
𝑞𝑇

After you have made a preliminary valve selection, you know

how much excess capacity the valve has. If the flow is choked 𝑥
can be reduced to 0.53 𝐹𝐾 𝑥𝑇 and flow will only fall to 90% of
the choked flow valve. If original pressure drop ratio is 0.45
𝐹𝐾𝑥 𝑇 , it can be reduced to 0.35𝐹𝐾 𝑥 𝑇 , the flow fraction will be
0.72
=0.837 . For new valve, the inter-stage pressure can be
0.86
calculated as 𝑃𝑖 = 𝑃1(1 − 𝑥).
 Numericals
Numerical 1- Find the expected Sound pressure level SPL at the
location of the observer under the following condition,
Valve type-cage guided globe valve
𝒙𝑻 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟓 , Cv = 34.
𝑷𝟏 = 𝟏𝟏𝟒. 𝟓 𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒂.
𝑷𝟐 = 𝟓𝟒. 𝟓 𝒑𝒔𝒊𝒂.
𝑫 = 𝟐"𝒔𝒄𝒉𝟒𝟎 (O.D=2.375”)
t=0.154”.
Location=open area 3 feet above ground, 35 feet from
observer.
Solution- ∆𝑃 = 𝑃1 − 𝑃2
= 114.5 − 54.5
= 60𝑝𝑠𝑖𝑎
60
𝑥 = ∆𝑃 =
𝑃1 114.5

=0.52
𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log(40∆𝑃𝐶𝑉 √𝑥𝑇 ) + 𝐿𝑥 + 𝐿𝐾
𝐿𝑥 = 20𝑥0.45
= 20 × (0.52)0.45
= 14.90 𝑑𝐵𝐴
4 𝐷
𝐿𝐾 = 10log [ ]
𝜋 (𝐷−2𝑡)2(𝐷+72)
2.375
= 10log [4 ]
𝜋 (2.375−2×0.514)2

= −20.215𝑑𝐵𝐴
𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log(40 × 60 × 34√0.75) + 14.90 − 20.21
= 91.72𝑑𝐵𝐴
91.72 dBA at 3 feet away from the observer.
Hence using distance effect
𝑟
𝐿𝑃 = 𝐿 𝑃𝑂 − 10log ( ) (r is 35 feet)
𝑟0
35
𝐿𝑃 = 91.72 − 10log ( )
3
𝐿𝑝 = 81.05 𝑑𝐵𝐴 at 35 feet away from observer

Numerical 2
P1=125psia
P2=65psia
Cv=35, xT= 0.7

Pipe diameter D=2”sch40 (O.D=2.375”)

t=0.154”
Insulation is 1” thermal (4dB per inch)
Location: open area 3” above ground. Find the predicted Sound
Pressure Level (SPL) at 1.2m downstream of valve and 3 feet
horizontally from pipe surface.
Solution:
P=P1-P2 = 125-65 = 60psia
𝑥 = 𝑃 = 60
= 0.48
𝑃1 125

𝐿𝑥 = 20𝑥0.45 = (20)0.480.45 = 14.374 𝑑𝐵𝐴

4 𝐷
𝐿𝑘 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { }
𝜋 (𝐷 − 2𝑡)2(𝐷 + 72)
4 2.375
𝐿𝑘 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { }
𝜋 (2.375 − (2)0.154)2(2.375 + 72)
 = -20.21 dBA
𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log(40∆𝑃𝐶𝑉 √𝑥𝑇 ) + 𝐿𝑥 + 𝐿𝐾

𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log[40(60)(35)√0.7 + 14.37 − 20.21

𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 91.0966 𝑑𝐵𝐴 at 3 feet from the observer
Thermal insulation of 1” is provided so,
𝐿𝑝 = 91.06𝑑𝐵𝐴 − 4𝑑𝐵𝐴
𝑳𝒑 = 𝟖𝟕. 𝟎𝟗𝟔𝟔 𝒅𝑩𝑨

Practice Numerical:
Valve: 2”Globe
Upstream temperature: 343.15 K (70 F),
Upstream pressure: 100 psia
Downstream pressure: 50 psia
Fluid: Air Molecular weight, M: 28.97 Ratio of specific heats, γ: 1.4
Compressibility, Z: 1.0 (used for calculating the density, ρ2)
Flowrate, Q: =125000 scfh
Valve outlet ID, di : 0.0508 m (2”)
Downstream pipe Size: 3”

Downstream pipe ID, Di : 0.0779 m (3.068”)

Downstream pipe wall thickness (schedule 40), tp: 0.00549 m (0.216
in)
Beta, β, for Globe valve: 0.93
Find the SPL for the observer at 3 feet away from the location
Numerical 3:
The following conditions are given with requirement that the sound
pressure level be below 87 dBA
Q=295000 scfh
M=26.1

P1=60.5psia
P2=30.25psia
T=565 R , k=1.41
D=6”sch60 (O.D=6.625”) , t=0.28”
Valve: 4” high performance Butterfly valve at the following
conditions-
FpCv= 199, xTP= 0.37
Solution:
Step1: Noise prediction
P= P1 - P2 = 60.5-30.25 = 30.25 psia
𝑃
𝑥= = 0.5
𝑃1
𝐿𝑥 = 20𝑥0.45 = (20)0.50.45 = 14.64 𝑑𝐵𝐴
4 𝐷
𝐿𝑘 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { }
𝜋 (𝐷 − 2𝑡)2(𝐷 + 72)
4 6.625
𝐿𝑘 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { }
𝜋 (6.625 − (2)0.28 )2 (6.625 + 72)
= -25.35 dBA

𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log(40∆𝑃𝐶𝑉 √𝑥𝑇 ) + 𝐿𝑥 + 𝐿𝐾

***Note- Consider 𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣 = 𝐶𝑣, ignore piping geometry factor,
anyways it is approximately equal to 1
𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log[40(60)(30.25)√0.37 + 14.64 − 25.35
𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 92.6 𝑑𝐵𝐴 at 3 feet from the observer
Since the permissible value for sound pressure level is 87dBA, we try
a diffuser for the valve.
Step2- Take 𝑥 = 0.53𝐹𝐾 𝑥𝑇 with the diffuser.
𝐾
𝐹𝐾 = 1.4

𝐾 = 1.4 P1 Pi P2
1.4
𝐹𝐾 =
1.4

𝐹𝐾 = 1 valve Inter-stage diffuser

pressure
𝑥 = 0.53 × 1 × 0.37
= 0.1961
The inter-stage pressure Pi
𝑃𝑖 = 𝑃1(1 − 𝑥)
Note- 𝑥 = 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑥
𝑃𝑖 = 60.5(1 − 0.1961)
= 48.63
𝑥 = ∆𝑃
𝑃1

∆𝑃𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒 = 𝑥𝑃1
= 0.1961 × 60.5
= 11.864
𝑥
𝑌𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒 = 1 − 3𝐹 𝐾 𝑥 𝑇𝑃
0.1961
=1−
3×1×0.37

= 0.8233
Step 3- To check the condition for𝐹𝑃 𝐶𝑣 for new value of 𝑥 of the
Control valve
𝑥
𝑞 = 7320𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣𝑃1𝑌√
𝑀𝑇1𝑍

0.1961
295000 = 7320 × 𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣 × 60.5 × 0.82√
2.61×565×1

= 21.88𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣(𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑)
295000
𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣(𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑) =
21.88

= 222.85
𝐹 𝑃 𝐶 𝑣(𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑑)
= 222.85 = 1.11 < 1.5
𝐹 𝑃𝐶 𝑣(𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛) 199

So, the valve is suitable even after using with in-line diffuser. Hence,
the now check capacity of the diffuser
Step4 - For diffuser:
∆𝑃𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟 = 𝑃𝑖 − 𝑃2
= 48.63 − 30.25
= 18.38
∆𝑃
𝑥𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟 =
𝑃𝑖
18.38
=
48.63
= 0.37
𝑥
𝑌𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟 = 1 −
3𝐹𝐾𝑥 𝑇𝑃
0.37
=1−
3 × 1 × 0.5
= 0.753
Step 5- To check the capacity of diffuser (𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)

𝑥
𝑞 = 7320𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣𝑃𝑖𝑌 √
𝑀𝑇1𝑍

0.37
295000 = 7320𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣(48.63)(0.753)√
26.1 × 565 × 1

(𝐹𝑃 𝐶𝑣)𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟 = 219.712

𝐹𝑃𝐶𝑣(𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟) 219.712
= = 1.10
𝐹𝑃 𝐶𝑣(𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑) 199

The diffuser satisfies the given flow capacity condition.

Step 6- Since both valve-diffuser combination satisfy flow capacity

condition, now we calculate valve noise:

𝐿𝑥 = 20𝑥(0.45)
= 20(0.1961)0.45
= 9.608𝑑𝐵𝐴
Assuming outer diameter as 4.5” for valve and thickness 0.28” for
valve.
𝐷
𝐿𝐾 = 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { 4 }
𝜋 (𝐷−2𝑡)2(𝐷+72)
4.5
= 10𝑙𝑜𝑔 { 4 }
𝜋 (4.5−2×0.28)2(4.5+72)

= −23.165𝑑𝐵𝐴
𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log(40∆𝑃𝐶𝑣√𝑥𝑇 ) + 𝐿𝑥 + 𝐿𝐾
= [20log (40 × 11.86 × 199√0.37] + 9.6 − 23.16
= 81.61𝑑𝐵𝐴
Step7- Since the diffuser also satisfies the flow capacity, noise
calculations for the diffuser
𝐿𝑥 = 𝑒3.5(𝑥−0.5)
= 𝑒3.5(0.37−0.5)
= 0.634𝑑𝐵𝐴
𝐿𝐾 = −23.165𝑑𝐵𝐴 (𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒 since D and t are same)

𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 20 log(40∆𝑃𝐶𝑣√𝑥𝑇 ) + 𝐿𝑥 + 𝐿𝐾

= 20 log(40 × 10.38 × 219√0.5)

= 78.59𝑑𝐵𝐴
There is 3.01dBA insertion loss at the diffuser.
Step 8- The net effective SPL (sound pressure level) is to be
calculated
Adding sources-
𝐿𝑃1 𝐿𝑃2
𝐿𝑃 = 10 log (10 10 + 10 10 )

𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 𝐿𝑃1 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑣𝑒

𝐿𝑃𝑂 = 𝐿𝑃2 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑓𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑟
81.61 78.6
𝐿𝑃 = 10 log (10 10 + 10 10 )

= 83.37𝑑𝐵𝐴
Hence, by using the diffuser the given conditions are satisfied.
[Note:- If the value of SPL is above the permissible value with the
selected diffuser, further lower the flow rate by selecting another
diffuser from the given table].
Steps to solve for Control valve noise with Diffuser-
1) Valve noise prediction, if required suggest use of in-line diffuser
2) Diffuser introduces interstage pressure so calculate Pi, xnew,
Pnew, Y changed values for the valve (for valve Pnew=P1-Pi)
3) Check capacity of valve after using inline diffuser by (FpCv)
condition
4) Calculate for diffuser P, x, Y. (For diffuser P = Pi – P2).
5) Check capacity of diffuser by (FpCv) condition
6) For the Valve-Diffuser combination now calculate valve noise.
(Note- For valve -diffuser combination, Valve makes some noise,
diffuser also makes some noise, hence both are found separately and
added by using Adding sources formula)
7) Calculate diffuser noise
8) Total effective SPL by using Adding Sources formula obtain the
final SPL value