Choke Valve
Choke valve is a mechanical device that is used for creating restriction in a flow line to vary the pressure or flow rate. Two types of chokes used on the rigs are fixed choke or variable choke.
A fixed choke has a fixed orifice size to allow the flow through the valve. The term ‘bean’ is used to refer to the piece of hardware installed inside the valve that has an orifice or opening drilled into it. If there is a need to change the bean for changing size of the opening or for replacement due to erosion, the valve needs to be disassembled.
An adjustable or variable choke provides the mechanism to be able to vary orifice sizes either manually or hydraulically through a remote panel. Adjustable choke makes it possible to accommodate a range of pressure and flow rate changes without the need to disassemble the valve.