A valve, comprising: a valve body, an inlet port and an outlet port; wherein the valve further comprises: a seat ring rigidly coupled within the valve body, the seat ring having an inner surface that has a conical shape; a seat ring retainer rigidly coupled within the valve body to retain the seat ring within the valve body, the seat ring retainer having apertures that enable a fluid to flow from the inlet port, through the seat ring retainer, through the seat ring, and toward the outlet port; and a valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) positioned within the seat ring retainer and slidable between an open position and a closed position relative to the seat ring, wherein the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) comprises a first, second and third sections (460, 464, 468) defining a longitudinal axis of the valve plug, wherein:. the first section defines a first end, the first section being slidably disposed within the seat ring retainer;. the second section defines a second end opposite the first end, the second section having a conical shape along the longitudinal axis to contact the inner surface of the seat ring when the valve plug is in the closed position; and the third section is located between the first and second sections (460, 464), characterized in that the third section includes a curved notch (232, 832, 932, 1032, 1232, 1432, 1492, 1632, 1692, 1694, 1796) formed inwardly from a periphery of the third section toward the longitudinal axis, the curved notch (232, 832, 932, 1032, 1232, 1432, 1492, 1632, 1692, 1694, 1796) distributing the fluid flowing toward the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 120, 140, 1610) from the inlet port around the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) and to the outlet port. a seat ring rigidly coupled within the valve body, the seat ring having an inner surface that has a conical shape; a seat ring retainer rigidly coupled within the valve body to retain the seat ring within the valve body, the seat ring retainer having apertures that enable a fluid to flow from the inlet port, through the seat ring retainer, through the seat ring, and toward the outlet port; and a valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) positioned within the seat ring retainer and slidable between an open position and a closed position relative to the seat ring, wherein the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) comprises a first, second and third sections (460, 464, 468) defining a longitudinal axis of the valve plug, wherein:. the first section defines a first end, the first section being slidably disposed within the seat ring retainer;. the second section defines a second end opposite the first end, the second section having a conical shape along the longitudinal axis to contact the inner surface of the seat ring when the valve plug is in the closed position; and the third section is located between the first and second sections (460, 464), characterized in that the third section includes a curved notch (232, 832, 932, 1032, 1232, 1432, 1492, 1632, 1692, 1694, 1796) formed inwardly from a periphery of the third section toward the longitudinal axis, the curved notch (232, 832, 932, 1032, 1232, 1432, 1492, 1632, 1692, 1694, 1796) distributing the fluid flowing toward the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 120, 140, 1610) from the inlet port around the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) and to the outlet port.. the first section defines a first end, the first section being slidably disposed within the seat ring retainer;. the second section defines a second end opposite the first end, the second section having a conical shape along the longitudinal axis to contact the inner surface of the seat ring when the valve plug is in the closed position; and the third section is located between the first and second sections (460, 464), characterized in that the third section includes a curved notch (232, 832, 932, 1032, 1232, 1432, 1492, 1632, 1692, 1694, 1796) formed inwardly from a periphery of the third section toward the longitudinal axis, the curved notch (232, 832, 932, 1032, 1232, 1432, 1492, 1632, 1692, 1694, 1796) distributing the fluid flowing toward the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 120, 140, 1610) from the inlet port around the valve plug (210, 810, 910, 1010, 1210, 1410, 1610) and to the outlet port.