A Practical Solution to the Problem of Noise and Vibration in a Pressure Reducing Valve

Abstract

This paper shows how the mechanical vibration that is occasionally found in gas pressure reducing valves can be eliminated by careful design of the valve plug and seat. A pressure reducing valve was found to be excessively noisy, producing a sound pressure level of 117 dB when throttling air at an inlet to outlet pressure ratio of 15 and exhausting to the atmosphere; as a result the valve suffered wear and vibration damage. By changing the design of the original flat plug and seat the problem was significantly reduced. A 60° conical plug and seat produced a noise reduction of 12 dB (a factor of 4 in actual sound pressure level), the mechanical vibration was eliminated and the flow capacity was increased significantly.