Industrial Valves: An Overview of Types and Uses

Industrial valves are mechanical tools used to control the flow of liquid or gas through a system by opening, closing, or partially obstructing passageways. Industrial valves are designed to withstand high pressure from fluids or gases and to last for years in harsh environments. They are vital components of a piping system that carries fluids, gases, vapours, slurries, etc.

Industrial valves are design to regulate processes outside the home and most utilities including water, oil, and gas could not run without these robust and industrial-strength valves. Valves and valve configurations come in a wide range of purposes (on/off, control), fluids (liquid, gas), materials, and pressure and temperature conditions. 

There are many industrial valves in the general industry, power plants, chemical factories, refineries, oil and gas, water and wastewater treatment, and other industries. These valves come in a variety of types, functions, sizes, materials, pressure ratings, and operation techniques. For buyers or newcomers to the valve industry, it can be perplexing. Hence, a general understanding of the various valve designs that are available and how they support different processing or fluid handling applications is require.

This article is all about valves, the various types of industrial valves, and the purposes for which they are use.

Types of Valves and Their Uses

Ball Valve

The ball valve is a quarter-turn operated valve. The majority of process control valves are quarter-turn 2-way ball valves. These valves are used to shut off or isolate a system, a loop, or a component within the system. They have two ways (inlet and outlet) and two positions (open and closed). The ball acts as the primary obstruction in a ball valve’s basic design, and it is sandwiched between two “seats,” or seals in the form of cups. 

A straight bore runs through the ball. When the valve is open, media flow through this bore. By turning the globe 90 degrees, the valve can be closed to stop the flow of fluid through the hole and make it perpendicular to the flow. To provide a tight shutoff, the seat is often circumferential and made of soft materials. Either metals or plastics can be used to create the seat. Both metal and plastic can be used to make the seat.

Ball valves have very simple and basic designs that make them low-maintenance, long-lasting, and, when used properly, exhibit minimal leakage.

Uses

Ball valves are usually applied in shutoff applications. Steam, water, oil, gas, air, and caustic fluids are among the fluids that usually use ball valves. They are capable of handling slurries and dry, dusty fluids. Abrasive and fibrous materials shouldn’t be use with ball valves since there is a chance that they will scratch the surface of the seat and plug.

Plug Valve

A plug valve’s basic design is virtually identical to a ball valve, with the exception of the type of obstructer that is employ. In this valve, a slightly taper cylinder is use in place of the ball. This cylinder has a bore through it that is similar to a ball valve, and it functions similarly, being open in one position and closed when turned 90 degrees.

Uses

It’s are usually use for on/off applications, just like ball valves. It is valves are use to manage fluids containing suspend solids, slurries, etc. It’s valves are utilis in processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, and the chemical process industries as control valves and shut-off valves.

Butterfly Valve

Butterfly valves are quarter-turn operated valves, widely utilis in multiple industries for different purposes. A disc-shape obstruction is use with butterfly valves.

Butterfly valves are also known as  “resilient seated”  due to butterfly valves having a single seal ring that serves as both a seal between the valve body and the disc. A seal is place between the pipe flanges and the valve body. The flow is stop when the disc is perpendicular to the direction of flow. When the disc is turn 90 degrees, the flow passes through the valve by passing around its narrow profile. Quick operation of the valve is ensure by quarter-turn operation.

Uses

Butterfly valves are use in wastewater treatment plants, power plants, and process plants for shut-off, regulation, and service isolation. They are especially popular in very large-diameter pipes. Butterfly valves are also appropriate for vacuum services, cryogenics, and slurries.

Gate Valve

The gate valve, which opens and closes in a linear motion, is the most popular isolation valve in industry. A gate valve gets its name because of the way its disc resembles a gate. There are several different kinds of gate valves, including pipeline slab gate valves, parallel slide gate valves, knife gate valves, and wedge gate valves.

Gate valves can only be used in fully closed and fully opene situations; proportional control situations are not compatible with them. However, as a gate valve’s channel is unblock, there is minimal pressure loss.

Uses

In power plants, process plants, and wastewater treatment plants, gate valves are most commonly implement to offer shut-off or isolating capabilities as they can handle metal-to-metal sealing. These valves can 

Globe Valve

A globe valve is a linear motion valve that stops, starts, or regulates flow in pipes using a globe-shaped disc. The plug-like moveable disc can be close up against a fixed ring seat to restrict flow. Manual globe valves use handwheels to regulate disc movement, while automatic globe valves use actuators and sliding shafts. Globe valves have a faster opening-closing time and are typically more leak-proof than other valves.

Uses

Globe valves are commonly utilis for shut-off and regulation in high-temperature applications, such as wastewater treatment plants, processing plants, and food processing plants. Industries are increasingly buying industrial valves online today.

Needle Valve

Needle Valves measure fluid flow through tubing or ports. By inserting or withdrawing a taper stem into or out of a correspondingly taper orifice, flow can be controlle in a precise way, regulating the fluid flowing through the orifice. The type of valve, the port connections, the size of the valve, and the materials used to construct the valve body—which includes the seat, seal, lining, and stem packing. 

Uses

Needle valves are utilis in vacuum systems and metering systems to provide accurate flow regulation. Since a high number of turns is requir to close a needle valve, they are not appropriate for use in shut-off service applications.

Pinch Valve

Pinch Valves are mechanical tools used to regulate the flow of liquid and dry products through pipes. A pinch valve uses a flexible tube as a conduit that may be compress shut by applying pressure from air or liquid to its outside. It can also be controlled mechanically.

Uses

Pinch valves are best suit to low-pressure applications. Pinch valves are used to regulate and shut off the flow of food slurries, dry products, sand, gravel, and other similar materials.

Check Valve

Check valves aka non-return valves are automatic and consistently maintain fluid flow in one direction, preventing back-flow in the piping. For quick operation, some piston/disc check valves are spring-loaded. A spring-load check valve is requir for vertical downward flow.

Uses

Check valves are utilis in pumps, gas lines, HVAC systems, air service, and other applications that require one-way fluid movement. 

Conclusion

This guide provides a fundamental overview of valves, as well as their selection and application in various situations. emechmart is the best place for the best industrial valves, buy online all types of valves at one site.