Types of valves Used in industry

              In industries, We use numerous types of valves. Valves are the mechanisms in a fluid flow or pressure system that regulate either the flow or the pressure of the fluid. This duty may involve stopping and starting flow, monitoring flow rate, diverting flow, preventing backflow, regulatory pressure, or relieving pressure.

                There are mainly two types of valves: Manual valves and automation valves. Here I am sharing some information about manual valves, I hope it will help you to increase your industrial knowledge.

             A manual valve is considered to be a valve that is operated by plant persons directly, by the use of either a hand wheel/wrench or an on/off actuator in the case of shutdown valves. Manual valves serve three major functions in fluid-handling systems: stopping and starting flow, monitoring flow rate, and diverting the flow.

          These duties are executed by adjusting the position of the closure member in the valve. This may be done either manually or automatically. Manual valves serve three major functions in fluid-handling systems: stopping and starting flow, monitoring flow rate, and diverting the flow.

 

There is the classification of valves as their common function:

Isolation Valves	Regulatory Valves	Safety Relief Valves	Non-Returnable Valves	Special Purpose Valves
Ball Valve	Ball Valve	Pressure relief valve	Swing check	Float valve
Butterfly Valve	Butterfly Valve	Vacuum relief valves	Lift check valves	Foot valve
Diaphragm Valve	Diaphragm Valve			Knife gate valve
Gate Valve	Globe Valve			Line blind valves
Pinch Valve	Needle Valve
Plug valves

 

 

Ball valve:-

               The ball valve is a rotating motion valve. By rotating the hollow ball inside the valve, we can turn the valve on and off. It is very good at on/off operation, also good at regulating operation but the flow of fluid will cause abrasion to a ball that may cause leakage in close conditions. When the opening of the ball is exactly at the pipe opening it is called open condition. When the hole is vertical to the valve opening then it is called close condition.

 

Advantages of Ball Valve      

¨       Open and close quickly and provides leak-proof operation 

¨       Maintains and regulate high temperature, high flow, and high pressure

¨       Low maintenance cost

¨       Low initial cost

 ¨    Long service life

Disadvantages of Ball Valve

¨       Very difficult to clean and prone to contamination

¨       Can’t use for permanent throttling

 

 

Butterfly valve:-

 

                A butterfly valve, in its simplest sense, opens, closes, or controls the flow. It is a mechanical device used to regulate and isolate the flow of certain substances. It acts as a passageway for the way in or exit of either air, water, or any other fluid. Their design features a disk mounted on a rod. When closed, this disk blocks the passageway in which it is mounted, which happens when the valve is turned by a quarter. When it is rotated by another quarter turn, unrestricted flow or passage then occurs. Opening or closing the valve is achieved by some turns; hence they are derived from a family of quarter-turn valves. This simple design is what makes this valve a popular one.

 

The simplicity of this valve is responsible for its very extensive and continuous use.

 

 

Advantages of Butterfly valves

¨       A simple and affordable design that comprises lesser parts which make it maintenance-friendly.

¨       Lightweight body makes it budget-friendly

¨       It can transfer mud, with a negligible fluid deposit in the pipeline outlet.

¨       Good sealing at low pressure and open and shut easily.

¨       Butterfly valve needs much less structural assistance than a ball valve of the same diameter needs.

 

Disadvantages of Butterfly valves

¨       A certain part of the disc always faces the flow, even when completely opened. The operation of a butterfly valve thus always leads to a pressure switch over the valve irrespective of the setting.

¨       It has a poor sealing function.

¨       Throttling by employing butterfly valves is restricted to low-pressure drop systems.

¨       Possible cavitation and choked flow is a worry when butterfly valves perform.

 

 

Globe valve:-

               

                The Globe valve is another very important and useful type of valve. It is known as a globe valve because of its spherical shape. The globe contains a seat and plug arrangement. It is used to start, stop, and also regulate the flow of fluid. Because of its perpendicular flow path of fluid, it is providing very good at throttling also. It provides fewer leakage problems than the Gate valve. The globe valve gives a very high-pressure drop because of the perpendicular flow path.

 

Advantages of Globe Valves

¨       Have throttling feature

¨       Opening and closing is fast compared to the gate valve

¨       It is fast-acting

Disadvantages of Globe Valves

¨       Not good for clean or sterile applications

¨       Very high-pressure drop

¨       Noisy in high-pressure applications

 

Gate valve:-

 

                Gate valve is the simplest type of valve also known as the On/Off valve Knife valve or slide valve. Gate valve is designed to operate either in fully open or fully closed conditions. When the valve is fully open or the gate is in open condition there is very negligible resistance to the flow of fluid and when it is in closed condition or the gate is closed it will restrict the flow of fluid. They are used in both above-ground and underground applications. The gate valve can only work on either fully open or closed conditions hence it is very bad at flow control. Now, let’s talk about different parts of the Gate valve.

 

 

Advantages of Gate valves

¨       Offers less resistance to fluid

¨       It can be used with slurries and viscous liquids

¨       Easy to maintain

Disadvantages of Gate valves

¨       Opening and closing is time-consuming

¨       Very bad at throttling

 

Plug valve:-

 

                A plug valve can be defined as basically a quarter-turn rotary motion valve that employs a narrowed or cylindrical plug to obstruct or open the flow. The disk has a plug outline, which has an opening to pass the flow.

                In the unfastened arrangement, this bored passage is in line with the flow. When the plug is rotated 90 degrees from the unfastened arrangement, the solid part of the plug hinders the flow. The plug valve is used in place of a gate valve where fast operation is needed. This valve can also be used in high-pressure temperature services.

 

 

 

Advantages of Plug Valves

¨       The design of a plug valve is uncomplicated and clear with just a few parts

¨       This valve opens and closes fast.

¨       The inline maintenance of plug valves is feasible.

¨       This valve offers minimal resistance to the flow

¨       It provides a  dependable leak-tight service

¨       The multiple port design helps to reduce the number of valves needed and allows a change in a flow direction

Disadvantages of Plug Valves

¨       The plug valves need a higher amount of force to operate. This happens due to high friction

¨       The bigger plug valves cannot be operated manually and requires an actuator to operate them.

¨       A pressure  drop is encountered due to reducing port

¨       The plug valves are more expensive than ball valves for any given size and class

 

Type of valves	Application	Services
Ball Valve	1. Stopping and starting flow 2. Moderate throttling 3. Flow diversion	Gases Liquids Non-abrasive slurries Vacuum Cryogenic
Butterfly Valve	1. Stopping and starting flow 2. Controlling flow the	Gases Liquids Slurries Powder Granules Sanitary handling of pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs Vacuum
Globe valve	1. Controlling the flow 2. Stopping and starting flow 3. Frequent valve operation	Gases essentially free of solids Liquids essentially free of solids Vacuum Cryogenic
Gate valve	1. Stopping and starting flow 2. Infrequent operation	Gases Liquids fluids carrying solids in suspension
Plug valve	1. Stopping and starting flow 2. Moderate throttling 3. Flow diversion	Liquids Non-abrasive slurries Abrasive slurries for lubricated plug valves Sticky fluids for eccentric and lift plug valves Sanitary handling of pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs Vacuum

 So, this is all about the Manual control valve. I will share more information about different types of auto control valves in my upcoming blogs. 

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