20 yrs experience ... more than 1/2 in the field. Which is why I love these conversations.
If anyone is interested, there is a check valve webinar @ 2 pm EST. ... in 45 minutes for me
http://www.globalspec.com/events/eventDetails?eventId=1112&gotoEventNotReady=1

I've never used a plug valve for control on purpose. Need to look at valve authority and other parameters. However, many "balancing valves are "ball" valves which, to me, are rejected, but I have seen them used. As a general rule, I equate ball and plug together ... just better more robust seating on the plug

"Don't look at valve authority and other parameters".
Rather, look at various process plants and their authoritave "know how" from nearly a century.
They work well and ~ 70 years automated from primitive to very sophisticated.

Finally, I don't understand what you are looking for ?
Maybe, valve manufacturers is a better place than Smath forum about your unclear "Crane check valve".

I will end it there unless if you have real project question(s).

Wrote

So, the corrected calculation results in different selection: 18 in instead of 16.

Mike, Thank you for catching an error ... ID. On the smaller pipe diameters, of which this was based off of, that was not as big as a deal as the ID is actually bigger than the pipe size.

Thank you Carlos and Jean for the inspiration on the programing loop

BTW, This calculation WAS specific for a swing check valve which is common for AWWA (90 degree swing, non-UL listed). If you look at the Crane manual, different velocities are recommended for different styles of check valves. I added a tilting disc as an example too. A good U.S. rule of thumb is 7 to 10 feet per second for a check valves even per manufacturers.
Attached is the final version which is based on Crane TP410. Someone made a point about "Not enough Collabs post working files" Check Valve Sizing.sm (34 KiB) downloaded 33 time(s)..