Compact multi-stage control valve trim

A control valve, comprising:

• a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• a valve seat positioned in a passageway of the body between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
• a valve plug positioned within the body and movable between a closed position, in which the valve plug sealingly engages the valve seat, and an open position, in which the valve plug is spaced away from the valve seat;
• and
• a cage disposed within the body adjacent the valve seat, the cage providing longitudinal guidance for the valve plug as the valve plug moves longitudinally within the cage, the cage including a cage wall having a plurality of throttling passageways each extending through the cage wall between only a single throttling inlet and only a single throttling outlet, each throttling passageway having a radial portion, an axial portion, and an angular portion between the throttling inlet and the throttling outlet, the passageway also including plurality of vena contracta positioned between the throttling inlet and the throttling outlet, and a plurality of pressure recovery chambers positioned between the throttling inlet and the throttling outlet;
• and
• wherein the throttling passageway forms a plurality of pressure reducing stages, and further wherein each of the pressure recovery chambers is bounded by an upstream pressure reducing stage and a downstream pressure reducing stage, the upstream pressure reducing stage being defined by a first selected one of the radial, axial, or angular portions, and the downstream pressure reducing stage being defined by a second selected one of the radial, axial, or angular portions, the first and second selected portions being dissimilar;
• and
• further wherein at least a portion of the throttling passageway is chevron-shaped relative to a radial cross-section.