Valves are essential for valve control where they are used to control, regulate and direct the flow of liquids in many industrial applications. In this article, we are going through some of the common valves used.
You can find Bray valves that are designed according to the strict requirements on the flow control industry where value and quality are prioritised. Bray butterfly valves are known for their quality performance. Butterfly valves have a disc-shaped closing mechanism that will rotate within the body of the valves in order to control flow. These are affordable and lightweight valves that can be used for a variety of applications such as water treatment plants, HVAC system and ventilation systems.
A butterfly valve can be used in an instance where you need to control large flow volumes in a short time. Some of the most common valves used in the flow control industry are globe valves where the body is spherical shaped with a moveable disk that regulates the fluid flow. These valves allow you to finely control the flow rate. They are also great for shutting off the flow completely. You can use globe valves in applications where you need to throttle such as controlling high pressure fluids, gases and steam.
Ball valves which have a closing mechanism shaped like a ball have a very simple operation
When the handle of the ball valve is turned 90 degrees, the ball that is inside the valve will pivot stopping or allowing the flow. This is a versatile type of valve and you will be able to control the fluid very quickly; this allows for prompt on and off control. This type of valve will be very useful in petrochemical plants and water supply systems.
Gate valves can be used for full close or full open application. A gate shaped closing mechanism is used and this will travel perpendicular to the flow of fluid. If you are looking for minimal drop in pressure and a tight seal, gate valves are ideal. In the oil and gas industry, gate valves are used quite often. These are also seen in water and wastewater systems.
Check valves are known as one-way valves and they allow the fluid to flow in one direction only
These are used to prevent backflow such as in sump pumps, plumbing systems etc. You can find check valves in different configurations such as ball, lift and swing check valves. These are used for different applications. Where you need to have fine flow control, you can use needle valves and these allow you to make accurate adjustments. There is a needle like stem to regulate the rate of flow and these are used in hydraulic systems and laboratories to achieve precise control.
There are also diaphragm valves that can be used in applications where you need to prevent leakage and contamination. Therefore, diaphragm valves are increasingly used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The flow is stopped when the diaphragm presses down on the valve seat and starts when it is lifted.
