Types Of Industrial Valves

Valves are used for regulating, directing or controlling the flow of fluids by opening, closing or blocking the passageways. Thus the key function of industrial valves is to control fluid flow. Valves are available in different types. While some valves control the flow of materials proportionally, others are either open or closed. Industrial valves can either be manually controlled or automatically operated. They are available in different materials such as plastic, metal or alloy according to the area of application.

Ball, Plug and Butterfly Valves

These three types of valves come with a movable section which is present in the path of the material flowing through the piping system. As soon as the internal mechanism is rotated, more or less flow of material is allowed through it.

• Ball valves are shaped like a ball with a hole. When the hole rotates perpendicular to the flow, ball valve gets closed.
• Plug valves have a cylindrical plug which is having a hole bored in it. These valves function exactly like ball valves.
• Butterfly valves have a wing-like disk which keeps opening and closing in the flow path.

Gate and Globe Valves

Gate and globe valves leak less as compared to other valves. Gate valves are designed in such a manner that they can either be fully opened or fully closed. When they open, there is very less pressure drop across the internal of the system. When they close, they keep tight at high pressure. These valves open and close very slowly in order to avoid fluid hammer effects and they employ the use of a wedge pushing into a seat. Globe valves, on the other hand, use the movement of the disk which fits into the seat used in the system.

Pinch and Diaphragm Valves

These valves are mainly used in high purity applications. These applications commonly contain fluids with some solid materials. These valves are designed in a manner that they mechanically pinch a flexible membrane which closes the flow of the material. The flow path with these valves is straight and they have no moving internal parts. PP Diaphragm valves, on the other hand are very similar to pinch valves but they create a bubble tight seal. These valves push a flexible diaphragm into the flow path of the material.

Industrial valves are available in a variety. They can be selected according to the application where they need to be used. PP Valves can be sourced from reputed Valve Exporters in Gujarat.