VALVE TYPES
There are a large variety of valves and valve confi gurations to suit all services and conditions; different uses (on/off, control), different fluids
(liquid, gas etc; combustible, toxic, corrosive etc) different materials and different pressure and temperature conditions. Valves are for starting
or stopping flow, regulating or throttling flow, preventing back flow or relieving and regulating pressure in fluid or gaseous handling applications.
Common valve types include: Ball, Butterfly,Check, Diaphragm, Gate, Globe, Knife Gate, Parallel Slide, Pinch, Piston, Plug, Sluice, etc.
The following types of valves are used in a variety of applications, these descriptions may provide a basic guideline in the selection of valves.
BALL VALVES
Because of their excellent operating characteristics, ball valves are used for the broadest spectrum of isolation applications and are available in
a wide range of sizes and materials and are available in full fl ow and full through conduit. Advantages - quick acting, straight through fl ow in
either direction, low pressure drop, bubble tight shut off & operating torque, easily actuated. Disadvantages temperature limitiations on seating
material, long “relative” face to face dimension.
GATE VALVES
Wedge Gate Valves: - Commonly used in industrial piping for stop or isolating – to turn on and shut off the fl ow as opposed to regulating flow.
Gate valves are named from the gate-like disc which operates at a right angle to the path of the flow. Gate valves are general service valves that
can be made in a broad spectrum of sizes using a variety of different materials. Wedge gate valves are metal seated but are also available with
resilient seat insert if drip tight shut off is required. They can meet the demands of a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions and is
available in full port. Advantages - low pressure drop, straight through fl ow either direction. Disadvantages -slow acting, bulky. Not drip tight
shut off (over 150NB). Do not partially open as this will cause damage to seat/disc.
Knife Gate Valves: - Useful for many applications in larger sized pipework (50mm up). Unlike traditional gate valves, they are able to throttle
(at lower pressures) depending on line media and degree of opening. Metal seated knife gate valves are not leak tight shut off. Some knife gate
valves have a resilient seat in order to ensure they close drip-tight. Available in v-port, o-port and lined they are ideally suited for the control of
effluent, slurries, waste products, semi solids, pulp, bulk powders. Most knife gate valves are designed for single flow direction.
Parallel Slide Gate Valves: - Popular in steam applications as the energised disc design handles thermal expansion without sticking like wedge
gate valves. Another advantage is lower torque then wedge gate valves especially in venturi (Ferranti) reduced bore confi guration. Parallel slide
valves consist of two parallel gates that are energised against the seat at all times by springs or a wedging spreader bar between the two gates. No
mechanical stress is exterted bewteen the discs, and the valve is not subjected to dangerous strains in opening and closing. This design of valve
maintains fl uid tightness without the aid of wedging action. These valves are used for saturated and super heated steam. Pipeline Slab Gate Valves:
Available in parallel solid slab and expanding 2 piece wedging slab. Both styles protect the seat area from the flow in all operating positions. These
valves have a full through conduit confi guration with a hole in the slab. Slab style gate valves have seats that are spring energised. The expanding
slab features two opposed sliding v-shape segments that maintain pressure against the seats. These valves are for API6D pipeline applications but
are also used for API6A wellhead valves. All these valves are made in metal to metal and soft seat confi guration.
GLOBE VALVES
Globe/Stop Valves: - The flow path through globe valves follows a changing course, thereby causing increased resistance to flow and considerable
pressure drop. Because of the seating arrangements, globe valves are the most suitable for throttling fl ow, however avoid extremely close throttling
when the repeatable pressure drop exceeds 20%. Close throttling creates excess noise, vibration and possible damage to valves and piping. Consult
us for special service valve solutions. The valve is named after is globular body. Compared to gate valves, globe valves are designed to open and
close more quickly. Their fl ow characteristics can be changed by re-confi guring their discs. Advantages - best shut off (not drip tight above 50NB)
& regulating. Disadvantages - high pressure drop (head loss), unidirectional.
Stop Check Valves (SDNR): - Stop check valves are essentially the same as Globe valves, except there is no mechanical connection between the stem
and the disc. They provide a combination Stop valve and a Piston check valve in one valve. However, they are not designed for throttling. They are used
in steam boiler outlet piping when two or more boilers are connected to a common header. Valves must be installed with pressure under the disc, and
when the stem is raised, only boiler pressure can raise the disc whenever boiler pressure exceeds header pressure. They prevent backfl ow from the header
to boiler.
CHECK VALVES
Sometimes referred to as a non-return valve, the check valve prevents back-flow in the piping by constantly keeping fl uid fl owing in one direction.
Check valves operate automatically. Some piston/disc check valves are spring loaded for fast operation, (minimum cracking pressure should be specified).
Vertical downwards flow requires a spring loaded check valve.
Swing Check Valves: - Swing & Wafer checks cease reverse flow with a flap that swings onto a seat. Use swing checks only for forward flow that is
horizontal or vertical upward. Piston Check Valves: - Piston & Spring checks cease reverse fl ow with a spring loaded plunger.
Ball Check Valves: - Ball checks have a ball that slides into a hole as forward fl ow slows. Consider a ball check for semi-solids such as pulp or effluent.
Tilting Disc Check Valves: - Tilting Disc check valves are similar to Swing check valves but in most installations, slamming is minimised upon reversal of
flow so noise and vibration are reduced.
BUTTERFLY VALVES
The butterfly valve derives its name from the wing-like action of the disc which operates at right angles to the flow. Its main advantage is a seating surface
which is not critical. It is designed for flow isolation. The disc impinges against a resilient liner to provide bubble tightness with low operating torque.
Compact and with a simple construction, butterfly valves facilitate easy pipe arrangement. Due to disc, they have slightly reduced flow characteristics.
Advantages - quick acting, good regulating characteristics, compact & light, low pressure isolation. Butterfly valves are simple, reliable and range in
size from 40mm to 1000mm and beyond. They can be controlled by a notched lever, handwheel as well as by pneumatic or electric actuator. A shaft turns
a disc 90º within a pipe. The disc angle within the pipe can provide a restriction varying from drip-tight through to almost full flow (except very small sizes).
PLUG VALVES
Plug valves are valves with cylindrical or conically-tapered “plugs” which can be rotated inside the valve body to control flow through the valve. The plugs
in plug valves have one or more hollow passageways going sideways through the plug, so that fl uid can flow through the plug when the valve is open. Plug
valves are simple and often economical.
Characteristics of Valve by Type
(liquid, gas etc; combustible, toxic, corrosive etc) different materials and different pressure and temperature conditions. Valves are for starting
or stopping flow, regulating or throttling flow, preventing back flow or relieving and regulating pressure in fluid or gaseous handling applications.
Common valve types include: Ball, Butterfly,Check, Diaphragm, Gate, Globe, Knife Gate, Parallel Slide, Pinch, Piston, Plug, Sluice, etc.
The following types of valves are used in a variety of applications, these descriptions may provide a basic guideline in the selection of valves.
BALL VALVES
Because of their excellent operating characteristics, ball valves are used for the broadest spectrum of isolation applications and are available in
a wide range of sizes and materials and are available in full fl ow and full through conduit. Advantages - quick acting, straight through fl ow in
either direction, low pressure drop, bubble tight shut off & operating torque, easily actuated. Disadvantages temperature limitiations on seating
material, long “relative” face to face dimension.
GATE VALVES
Wedge Gate Valves: - Commonly used in industrial piping for stop or isolating – to turn on and shut off the fl ow as opposed to regulating flow.
Gate valves are named from the gate-like disc which operates at a right angle to the path of the flow. Gate valves are general service valves that
can be made in a broad spectrum of sizes using a variety of different materials. Wedge gate valves are metal seated but are also available with
resilient seat insert if drip tight shut off is required. They can meet the demands of a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions and is
available in full port. Advantages - low pressure drop, straight through fl ow either direction. Disadvantages -slow acting, bulky. Not drip tight
shut off (over 150NB). Do not partially open as this will cause damage to seat/disc.
Knife Gate Valves: - Useful for many applications in larger sized pipework (50mm up). Unlike traditional gate valves, they are able to throttle
(at lower pressures) depending on line media and degree of opening. Metal seated knife gate valves are not leak tight shut off. Some knife gate
valves have a resilient seat in order to ensure they close drip-tight. Available in v-port, o-port and lined they are ideally suited for the control of
effluent, slurries, waste products, semi solids, pulp, bulk powders. Most knife gate valves are designed for single flow direction.
Parallel Slide Gate Valves: - Popular in steam applications as the energised disc design handles thermal expansion without sticking like wedge
gate valves. Another advantage is lower torque then wedge gate valves especially in venturi (Ferranti) reduced bore confi guration. Parallel slide
valves consist of two parallel gates that are energised against the seat at all times by springs or a wedging spreader bar between the two gates. No
mechanical stress is exterted bewteen the discs, and the valve is not subjected to dangerous strains in opening and closing. This design of valve
maintains fl uid tightness without the aid of wedging action. These valves are used for saturated and super heated steam. Pipeline Slab Gate Valves:
Available in parallel solid slab and expanding 2 piece wedging slab. Both styles protect the seat area from the flow in all operating positions. These
valves have a full through conduit confi guration with a hole in the slab. Slab style gate valves have seats that are spring energised. The expanding
slab features two opposed sliding v-shape segments that maintain pressure against the seats. These valves are for API6D pipeline applications but
are also used for API6A wellhead valves. All these valves are made in metal to metal and soft seat confi guration.
GLOBE VALVES
Globe/Stop Valves: - The flow path through globe valves follows a changing course, thereby causing increased resistance to flow and considerable
pressure drop. Because of the seating arrangements, globe valves are the most suitable for throttling fl ow, however avoid extremely close throttling
when the repeatable pressure drop exceeds 20%. Close throttling creates excess noise, vibration and possible damage to valves and piping. Consult
us for special service valve solutions. The valve is named after is globular body. Compared to gate valves, globe valves are designed to open and
close more quickly. Their fl ow characteristics can be changed by re-confi guring their discs. Advantages - best shut off (not drip tight above 50NB)
& regulating. Disadvantages - high pressure drop (head loss), unidirectional.
Stop Check Valves (SDNR): - Stop check valves are essentially the same as Globe valves, except there is no mechanical connection between the stem
and the disc. They provide a combination Stop valve and a Piston check valve in one valve. However, they are not designed for throttling. They are used
in steam boiler outlet piping when two or more boilers are connected to a common header. Valves must be installed with pressure under the disc, and
when the stem is raised, only boiler pressure can raise the disc whenever boiler pressure exceeds header pressure. They prevent backfl ow from the header
to boiler.
CHECK VALVES
Sometimes referred to as a non-return valve, the check valve prevents back-flow in the piping by constantly keeping fl uid fl owing in one direction.
Check valves operate automatically. Some piston/disc check valves are spring loaded for fast operation, (minimum cracking pressure should be specified).
Vertical downwards flow requires a spring loaded check valve.
Swing Check Valves: - Swing & Wafer checks cease reverse flow with a flap that swings onto a seat. Use swing checks only for forward flow that is
horizontal or vertical upward. Piston Check Valves: - Piston & Spring checks cease reverse fl ow with a spring loaded plunger.
Ball Check Valves: - Ball checks have a ball that slides into a hole as forward fl ow slows. Consider a ball check for semi-solids such as pulp or effluent.
Tilting Disc Check Valves: - Tilting Disc check valves are similar to Swing check valves but in most installations, slamming is minimised upon reversal of
flow so noise and vibration are reduced.
BUTTERFLY VALVES
The butterfly valve derives its name from the wing-like action of the disc which operates at right angles to the flow. Its main advantage is a seating surface
which is not critical. It is designed for flow isolation. The disc impinges against a resilient liner to provide bubble tightness with low operating torque.
Compact and with a simple construction, butterfly valves facilitate easy pipe arrangement. Due to disc, they have slightly reduced flow characteristics.
Advantages - quick acting, good regulating characteristics, compact & light, low pressure isolation. Butterfly valves are simple, reliable and range in
size from 40mm to 1000mm and beyond. They can be controlled by a notched lever, handwheel as well as by pneumatic or electric actuator. A shaft turns
a disc 90º within a pipe. The disc angle within the pipe can provide a restriction varying from drip-tight through to almost full flow (except very small sizes).
PLUG VALVES
Plug valves are valves with cylindrical or conically-tapered “plugs” which can be rotated inside the valve body to control flow through the valve. The plugs
in plug valves have one or more hollow passageways going sideways through the plug, so that fl uid can flow through the plug when the valve is open. Plug
valves are simple and often economical.
Characteristics of Valve by Type
| Item | Gate Valve | Globe Valve | Ball Valve | Butterfly Valve |
| Disc actuation | Vertical | Vertical | Lever handle Round handle Gear operated |
Rotary |
| Manual mode of operation |
Round handle Gear operated |
Round handle Gear operated |
Lever handle Round handle Gear operated |
Lever handle Gear operated |
| Automatic mode of operation |
Pneumatic/ Hydraulic Electric actuator |
Pneumatic/ Hydraulic Electric actuator |
Pneumatic/ Hydraulic Electric actuator |
Pneumatic/ Hydraulic Electric actuator |
| Application | On - off | On - off control | Automatic on - off Can be controlled |
Automatic on - off Can be controlled |
| Operating temperature range |
Wide | Wide | Narrow | Narrower |
| Operating pressure range |
Wide | Wide | Wide | Narrower |
| Face-to-face dimension | Long | Longest | Long | Short |
| Weight | Heavy | Heavy | Heavy | Light |
Next: PRESSURE SEAL BONNET DESIGN
Previous: APPLICATIONS - VALVE SEAT/SEAL MATERIALS
