valveOpen

valveOpen is a term in fluid control and process automation that denotes a valve in its open state or capable of conducting flow. In practice it can be a boolean status used by control software or the measured valve position relative to its closed and fully open stops.

Valve opening is typically expressed as a percentage, a flow coefficient (CV), or an angle. Data from limit switches, potentiometers, rotary encoders, or linear position sensors determine valveOpen. In electrical control, valveOpen is often a binary signal or part of a closed-loop system where the sensor value is compared to a threshold.

In software and automation hardware, valveOpen supports interlocks, alarms, and sequencing. An open valve may permit downstream equipment to operate, while a closed valve can trigger alarms or shutdowns.

Design considerations include fail-safe behavior, valve type (globe, ball, gate), actuator (electric, pneumatic, hydraulic), and control architecture (PLC, DCS, SCADA). In some systems, loss of signal or power returns the valve to a defined position, with valveOpen indicating the resulting state.

ValveOpen appears in industries such as water treatment, chemical processing, oil and gas, and building automation, where precise valve positioning governs flow, pressure, and safety margins.

Related topics include valve position, valveClosed, valve positioner, actuator, SCADA, DCS, and process control.