Research on the performance and optimization of regulating valves in complex fluid environments: A review

Regulating valves are critical components in various industrial applications, particularly in complex fluid environments where they face challenges such as erosion, cavitation, and intricate flow dynamics. This review synthesizes recent research findings on the performance and optimization of regulating valves, focusing on the mechanisms of erosion caused by solid particles, the effects of cavitation, and the influence of flow dynamics on valve integrity. Studies indicate that erosion rates are significantly affected by operational conditions, including fluid velocity and particle size, while cavitation poses a substantial risk to valve longevity and performance. Innovative design strategies, including biomimetic structures and advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, have been proposed to mitigate these issues. In terms of experimental validation, research on cavitation-erosion coupled wear in coal liquefaction regulating valves employed a scaled-down model to quantitatively analyze the relationship between surface roughness variations and material loss rates, providing critical data support for material selection under extreme operating conditions. This paper systematically reviews the latest advancements in failure mechanisms and optimization techniques for regulating valves, emphasizing the criticality of multiphysics coupling analysis and interdisciplinary design approaches. Future research should further integrate high-precision numerical simulations with field-measured data to investigate the application of smart materials, functional surfaces, and active control strategies in enhancing valve performance. These efforts aim to establish a theoretical foundation for reliable valve design in complex fluid environments across chemical, energy, and related industrial sectors.