Introduction

In severe-service control applications, high velocity is the enemy—it drives cavitation, noise, vibration and erosion. Copes-Vulcan’s Raven™ Trim, available through KV Controls, solves this by forcing the fluid through engineered, multi-stage paths that control velocity and energy release. The result is quieter, stable control and long component life—exactly what power, petrochemical, pulp & paper and gas facilities demand.

What is Raven™ Trim?

Raven™ is Copes-Vulcan’s severe-service, stacked-disc (labyrinth) trim that rapidly reduces flow velocities inside the valve. Its design delivers quiet, non-cavitating, non-erosive service by staging pressure drops through intricate channels and sharp turns—removing kinetic energy in a controlled way. it works (in plain English)

Stacked-disc labyrinth: A bonded stack of etched discs creates many small passages; each bend is a “stage” of pressure drop.
Narrow-wall, multi-stage design: The consistent narrow-wall geometry packs more stages per disc than conventional tortuous-path trims—excellent for taming extreme ΔP.
Blockage resilience: Multiple entry points and built-in relief paths mean that, even if debris partially blocks a path, inlet/outlet ports still function and Cv loss is negligible.

Key benefits for your plant

Cavitation suppression & erosion control: True velocity control stops the damage before it starts—protecting trim and downstream piping.
Lower noise & vibration: Lab testing shows Raven’s outlet-flow splitting can reduce noise versus similar labyrinth designs (up to ~3 dBA).
High rangeability: Characterised discs support wide turndown (applications up to ~200:1).
Maintainability & flexibility: Copes-Vulcan SD/GS valves support quick-change, interchangeable high-performance trims (Raven™, HUSH®, Tandem, GAD™) to match service severity and simplify spares.
Retrofits: Raven™ can be tailored to retrofit existing valves—often without changing the body—accelerating delivery and reducing cost.

Typical applications Raven™ excels at

Power & utilities: boiler feed/bypass (minimum flow), turbine bypass, attemperator spray water, drum level, condenser dumps, start-up vents.
Oil & gas / petrochemical / LNG: compressor antisurge, feed-gas regulation, pump recirculation, JT/let-down, flare, depressurising, amine let-downs, separator level control.

Valve platforms & actuation

A “Raven™ Control Valve” typically combines an SD Severe Duty valve body with Series 700/1000 diaphragm or Series 200 piston actuators; electric, electro-hydraulic, hydraulic or gas-powered options are also available.

Raven™ vs other Copes-Vulcan trims

Copes-Vulcan offers multiple high-performance trims—Raven™, HUSH®, Tandem, GAD™—so you can right-size cost and performance for each service. Raven™ is the go-to for the toughest duties requiring true velocity control; HUSH®, Tandem and others address staged pressure-drop/noise in less severe regimes. KV Controls can help you select the optimal trim per application.

Why partner with KV Controls

As a South African supplier for Copes-Vulcan technologies, KV Controls supports specification, sizing, sourcing and after-sales service—helping you standardise trims across sites, reduce inventory, and hit noise/cavitation targets with confidence.

Quick FAQs

Will Raven™ really cut noise?
Yes—its outlet-flow splitting and staged velocity control have demonstrated lower noise than similar labyrinth designs in testing.

Can Raven™ be retrofitted into an existing valve?
Often yes. Raven™ is designed for retrofits (including other manufacturers), frequently without replacing the body.

Is maintenance complicated?
No. SD/GS valves support quick-change, interchangeable trims to speed overhauls and reduce spares.