Balanced port sense profile for improved capacity performance

A fluid regulating device, comprising:

• a regulator valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet;
• an actuator coupled to the regulator valve and comprising a valve disc, the valve disc disposed within the regulator valve and adapted for displacement along a longitudinal axis between a closed position sealingly engaging the valve port and an open position disposed away from the valve port, the valve disc extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end;
• the valve disc including:
• a sealing surface disposed adjacent to an outer radial end of the valve disc, the sealing surface adapted to sealingly engage the valve port in the closed position;
• and
• an intermediate surface disposed radially inward of the sealing surface, wherein the intermediate surface includes a protrusion that extends along the longitudinal axis towards the valve port, wherein one or more disc passages longitudinally extend through the valve disc from the first end to the second end of the valve disc, and wherein a first end of the at least one disc passage is disposed adjacent to the first end of the valve disc and the first end of the at least one disc passage is radially disposed between the sealing surface and the protrusion, wherein a cross-section of the intermediate surface includes a first edge and a second edge, and the first edge and the second edge converge as the intermediate surface extends towards the valve port.

A method of tuning a balanced trim assembly of a fluid regulating device, the method comprising:

• selecting a balancing spring from a plurality of balancing springs, wherein each of the plurality of balancing springs has a unique spring force;
• and
• positioning the balancing spring within a fluid regulating device such that the balancing spring biases a valve disc of the balanced trim assembly away from a valve port and into an open position, the valve disc extending along the longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end,
• wherein the valve disc includes one of (1) a groove formed in an intermediate surface of the valve disc that is disposed inward of a sealing surface adapted to sealing engage the valve port in a closed position, the groove extending along a groove axis extending along the intermediate surface normal to a longitudinal axis extending through the valve disc, the groove axis being at least partially curved when viewed along the longitudinal axis, wherein one or more disc passages longitudinally extend through the valve disc from the first end to the second end of the valve disc, and wherein a first end of the at least one disc passage is disposed adjacent to the first end of the valve disc and the first end of the at least one disc passage is radially disposed between the sealing surface and the groove and (2) an intermediate surface disposed radially inward of a sealing surface adapted to sealing engage the valve port in a closed position, wherein the intermediate surface includes a protrusion that extends along a longitudinal axis extending through the valve disc, wherein one or more disc passages longitudinally extend through the valve disc from the first end to the second end of the valve disc, and wherein a first end of the at least one disc passage is disposed adjacent to the first end of the valve disc and the first end of the at least one disc passage is radially disposed between the sealing surface and the protrusion, wherein a cross-section of the intermediate surface includes a first edge and a second edge, and the first edge and the second edge converge as the intermediate surface extends towards the valve port.