A control valve primarily functions to:

The primary function of a control valve is to alter fluid flow rates. Control valves are essential components in various industrial processes, as they regulate the flow of liquids, gases, or steam to ensure optimal system performance. By adjusting the opening or closing of the valve in response to control signals, the flow rate can be increased or decreased, allowing for precise control over the process parameters.

This capability is crucial for maintaining the desired conditions within a system, such as temperature, pressure, and composition. Control valves play a key role in achieving process stability, efficiency, and safety.

While maintaining constant pressure is an important aspect of some control systems, it is often achieved by manipulating flow rates through control valves rather than being a direct function of the valve itself. Similarly, measuring temperature and storing liquid are tasks handled by specific instruments and storage solutions, not by control valves. Hence, altering fluid flow rates accurately captures the primary purpose of a control valve in process control systems.