Types of Industrial Valves – Applications, Advantages, and Disadvantages

ball valve

The purpose of industrial valves is to regulate liquids, gasses, and slurries. By using these valves, liquids or gasses can be controlled. You can do this through pipes and other passageways by opening, closing, and partially blocking them.

Different types of Industrial Valves include:

  • Gate Valves
  • Globe Valves
  • Ball Valves
  • Butterfly Valves
  • Check Valves

1. Gate Valves

Gate valves are designed to act as isolation valves.  These valves control the flow of liquid through pipes. The valves attached to pipelines are use to start or stop the flow of water or any other liquid. There are many applications for gate valves, and they are often found in homes and commercial buildings. Stainless steel, cast iron, alloy steel, forged steel, and other materials are use to manufacture these valves.

It is use to halt or start the flow of water using a gate valve. Gate valves are operated by lifting the circular or rectangular gate out of the fluid path. As long as gate valves are open, there will be nothing to obstruct the flow, as the pipeline diameter and gate have the same opening. The valve size can be determined by this bore diameter.

Advantages

  • Gate valves have very low friction losses
  • can use in both directions
  • they provide laminar flow and minimize pressure loss
  • The use of gate valves reduces the total cost of ownership and saves energy
  • Upon opening fully and tight sealing, there will be a low-pressure drop upon opening fully, and tight sealing, there will be a low-pressure drop

Disadvantages

  • Gate valves cannot open and close quickly
  • They cause vibrations
  • It is common for gate valve leaks to occur in systems where high temperatures change irregularly due to the load in the pipe at the valve end.
  • Gate valve seating surfaces are difficult to operate, maintain, and repair.

Applications:

  • In high temperature and pressure conditions, gate valves are suitable.
  • The applications they are use for are on-off

2. Globe Valves

In various applications, globe valves are among the most popular valves. A linear motion is use to throttle the flow, similar to a gate valve. By adjusting the position of the movable disk (or plug) in relation to the stationary ring seat, they control the flow in a pipeline. Globe valves have the advantage of not leaking as much as other valves.

With a globe valve, a baffle splits the inside of the pipe parallel to its length. The spherical shape of their bodies is offset by an internal baffle that separates the two halves. The device consists of a disc-like element that moves around and a ring seat that is stationary in a generally spherical shape.

Advantages

  • Throttling of the globe valves, the full-closing characteristic is good.
  • There is a shorter opening-closing time.
  • The seating surface process for the body ring is easier.
  • It is possible to use them as stop-check valves.
  • Positive shut-off features are present in them

Disadvantages

  • Pressure loss is higher
  • Globe valves require a large amount of force or an actuator with a large torque to close under high pressure.

Applications:

Global valves are primarily use for throttling. High-temperature flow control valves can be considered general-purpose flow control valves.

3. Ball Valves

Ball valves are valves that use a ball to control the flow of substances from one opening to another. They regulate gas/liquid flow by allowing the hole to be open, blocked, or partially open. Due to their better sealing ability, ball valves are ideal for use with gasses. They can withstand pressures up to 700 bars and temperatures up to 200°C, and their sizes typically range from 0.5 cm to 30 cm. Their simple structure makes them easy to operate and repair. Aira Euro Automation is a well know ball valve supplier in Nigeria.

ball valve
ball valve

Ball valves are designed with special measures that allow only 90-degree rotations for opening and closing. A noteworthy feature of these valves is their reliable and airtight sealing when closed.

Advantages

  • Their compact and low-maintenance design requires no lubrication
  • Among all valves, they are the most cost-effective
  • A ball valve’s biggest advantage is that it has poor throttling characteristics, which can lead to its seat eroding easily
  • Leak-proof service is provided by them.
  • They open and close quickly.
  • Multi-way design flexibility is a hallmark of ball valves.

Disadvantages

  • Permanent throttling is not possible with ball valves.
  • Particles in residual fluids adhere to surfaces when they collide with them. As a result, leakage, abrasion, and other problems may occur.

Applications:

  • Ball valves control flow and pressure and shut off corrosive fluids, slurries, normal liquids, and gasses.
  • In addition to oil and natural gas, they are use in many manufacturing sectors, chemical storage, and even in the residential sector.

4. Butterfly Valves

Butterfly Valves are design to regulate flow, but have limit control capabilities. They are easily operate by rotating a handle 90 degrees. In the close position, it has a metal disc that is position perpendicular to the flow. By rotating intermediately, liquid flow can be controlled. A butterfly valve can be operated electronically, manually, or pneumatically.

There are numerous applications for them, including water supply, wastewater treatment, fire protection, and gas supply, in the chemical and oil industries, fuel handling systems, and power generation. Depending on the application, these valves can be operated by handles, gears, or actuators.

Advantages

  • Butterfly valves are very accurate, which makes them useful for industrial applications.
  • Their high reliability and low maintenance make them a good choice.
  • They can throttle the flow.
  • They can install or remove without affecting the pipe system.

Disadvantages

  • Butterfly valves do not have tight shut-offs
  • A portion of the disc is always expose to the flow, even when fully open. There may be a pressure switch across the valve regardless of the setting.

Applications:

  • Butterfly valves can use in pharmaceutical, chemical, and food processing industries.
  • They are use for liquids at low temperatures and pressures that are corrosive.

5. Check Valves

Non-return valves (NRV) are also known as check valves. By allowing liquid to flow only in one direction, they prevent media from flowing backward. Check valves are design to prevent process flow from reversing in the system, which could damage equipment or disrupt a process.

They are commonly use to protect pumps in liquid systems or compressors in gas systems where backflow could cause the pumps or compressors to shut down. A check valve reduces backflow in a line by its design.

Due to their simpler design, they can operate without human interaction or automation. Instead, they rely on the flow velocity of the fluid to open and close. The higher the flow rate, the more open the valve is until it reaches its maximum, full opening.

Also, read Criteria to Choose Valves for High Temperature Application

Advantages

  • A check valve prevents backflow
  • can withstand pressure
  • serving as a backup system

Disadvantages

  • Pulsating systems cannot use with them
  • because the closing element may crash, causing excessive wear and damage

Applications:

  • A variety of market and application sectors use check valves due to their simple design and versatility of materials.
  • Check valves to prevent backflow and maintain pressure.
  • There are check valves in industries such as refining, petrochemical, chemical, oilfield production, water, steam, refining petro, and viscous fluids.
  • Additionally, they are frequently use in waste-water management systems and in manufacturing.

Aira Euro Automation is a leading valve manufacturer in Nigeria. We also export our product to more than 20 countries around the world.

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