What might be a consequence of excessive valve seat leakage?

Excessive valve seat leakage can lead to system instability and inefficiency because it compromises the functionality of the valve in controlling flow. A valve is designed to regulate the passage of fluids through a system, and when there is significant leakage at the seat, it undermines the valve's ability to create a proper seal. This can result in process deviation, fluctuating pressures, or inappropriate flow rates, ultimately leading to unstable operating conditions.

In addition, inefficiency arises as the system may now spend more energy attempting to maintain the intended process conditions, dealing with unregulated flow, or compensating for leaks elsewhere in the system. This not only affects the immediate operation but can also have broader impacts on performance and reliability, causing the system to operate far from optimal conditions.