Control valves are power-operated devices used to automatically modify fluid flow or rate pressure in a process system. The terms 'control valve' and 'throttling valve' are often used interchangeably but there is a distinction between the two. A throttling valve is a valve whose closure element has the ability to start and stop flow as well as stop along any position of the valve stroke to regulate the process of flow, temperature or pressure. Control valves are the final control element in the system and are used in conjunction with an actuator or actuation system. Control valves cannot act as standalone valves and therefore, while all control valves are throttling valves, not all throttling valves are control valves.

Control Valve