US Patent 7089961 Fluid energy reduction device

A fluid energy reduction device especially for a flow control valve has a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet separated by a plurality of stacked plates in the form of a trim stack. Each plate of the stack has a plurality of rows of discrete, spaced columns that extend to the plate above in the stack. Fluid flowing through the trim stack is obstructed by the columns and is forced to divide into a plurality of subordinate flow paths. The rows of columns are staggered in such a way that fluid downstream of the first row of columns is incident directly on columns of the next row. The arrangement provides for the smooth pressure drop and energy reduction in the fluid without cavitation, noise or vibration.