Published: August 1,
Last updated: December 30,
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Knowing what makes a valve the right choice
Valves control gas and liquid flow in almost every process and system. As common as they are, choosing the right valve can sometimes be time consuming and confusing.
Begin valve selection by first gathering some basic information on system performance requirements. Knowing this will make it easier to find the right valve. The five tips in this article focus on how to match valve features with these requirements.
Tip 1 ' Valve size and type
Choose the right valve type. Every valve needs to perform one or more basic functions:
Function determines the design of standard valve types. These are some of the most common valve types:
Properly sizing the valve is also important. The right valve choice means matching the valve's size to expected flow through the system.
Common Valve Types at VMA, Valve Manufacturers Association of America
How to Select the Right Valve (with Pros and Cons) at Indelac Controls
Tip 2 ' Materials of construction
Know the chemical compatibility requirements. The valve materials need to be compatible with the gases or liquids flowing through it. Plastic valves usually resist harsh or corrosive chemicals better than metal valves.
Miniature Ball Valves: Plastic, Brass or Stainless Steel? at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.
Chemical Compatibility Chart at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.
Tip 3 ' Performance requirements
Determine the pressure and temperature requirements. Find out both the temperature and pressure ranges where the valve will be installed. Metal valves tend to withstand higher temperatures and pressures than plastic valves. Metal valves are also usually best for pressurized gases. This is because they tend to be stronger than plastic valves.
A Selection Criterion for Pump and Valve Reliability at Processing Magazine
Tip 4 ' Check valves have special requirements
Be sure the new check valve will work as expected. Look at the response time needed as well as the cracking pressure required to open the valve.
Another consideration is normally closed vs normally open. There are basic check valve designs that require positive downstream pressure to open. These are usually referred to as normally closed check valves. There are other designs that require a positive backpressure to close. These are usually called normally open check valves. An appropriate choice between these two can improve check valve reliability. It is usually best to base this decision on whether the valve is usually open more or usually closed more during normal system operation.
Some check valve types may not work properly if mounted vertically instead of horizontally. Flow direction (upwards vs downwards) and fluid density both matter for check valve designs that can be mounted vertically.
Checking Out Check Valves ' An Introduction at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.
Tip 5 'Maintenance
Don't forget to consider ongoing maintenance. Any valve choice should include attention to maintenance requirements. This is important for both valve reliability and application stability.
A good example of this are ball valves. They resist clogging, jamming or malfunctioning. But they are not suitable for adjusting flow. Using them to control flow can lead to leaking or premature failure.
Valve connection type affects the ease and speed of repair or replacement. Each connection type (threaded, barbed, push-in, Luer, and so on) has its pros and cons.
Plant and Equipment Maintenance at HSE, Health and Safety Executive
Knowing where to start makes valve choice faster and easier
There it is. Knowing particular information beforehand, makes choosing the right valve easier and more certain. There will always be complications like application requirements, operating conditions and chemical compatibility. Starting with basic valve requirements will simplify and speed up valve selection:
Some additional resources
How ISM can help you find the right miniature valve for your application
Personalized customer service and resources available at the ISM website can be a great help when selecting a valve. Available online resources include chemical compatibility reference guides, dimensional drawings and product data sheets. Our online and PDF flow control valve catalogs provide access to a wide variety of miniature valve types, connection types, materials and sizes:
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Process control valves are used to manage the flow rate of a liquid or a gas and in-turn control the temperature, pressure or liquid level within a process. As such, control valves are defined by the way in which they operate to control flow and include globe valves, angle seat, diaphragm, quarter-turn, knife and needle valves, to name a few.
In most cases the valve bodies are made from metal; either brass, forged steel or in hygienic applications 316 stainless steel.
As such, control valves are defined by the way in which they operate to control flow and include globe valves, angle seat, diaphragm, quarter-turn, knife and needle valves, to name a few. In most cases the valve bodies are made from metal; either brass, forged steel or in hygienic applications 316 stainless steel.
Control valves are one of the most common, but also most important, instruments in the plant. By regulating the fluid flow in connected pipes, valves can achieve desired operating parameters, thereby ensuring smooth and efficient operation.
Flow control valves can serve a number of different functions within a flow system depending on the specific type that is used and the application.
One of the most simple uses of a manual flow control valve is to regulate the speed of motors or cylinders within the system. This function is possible due to the capability of a flow control valve to affect the rate of energy transfer at any given point in a system by impacting the flow rate.
The ability to reduce or increase pressure/flow in a system has many applications.
From simple consumer applications such as showers, faucets, and lawn watering systems to easily reduce the amount of water consumed without impacting the overall system performance, to more more heavy duty industrial applications in fully automated systems such as Steam or chemical dosing systems.
Our range of Flow control valves are known for their reliability and typically have a long operating lifetime. Due to these flexible performance parameters, flow control valves have found wide use in applications across materials handling, food processing, and automated factory and warehouse equipment.
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a process valve'
Choose the right valve type. Every valve needs to be perform one or more basic functions:
It is important to know the chemical compatibility requirements. The valve materials need to be compatible with the gases or liquids flowing through it. Plastic valves usually resist harsh or corrosive chemicals better than metal valves.
Determine the pressure and temperature requirements. Find out both the temperature and pressure ranges where the valve will be installed.
Metal valves tend to withstand higher temperatures and pressures than plastic valves. Metal valves are also usually best for pressurised gases. This is because they tend to be stronger than plastic valves.
Address the minimum and maximum inlet and outlet pressures that a valve is expected to handle. This will help you understand the flow control characteristics of the valve.
Ensure that the valve chosen offers consistent control across various temperature or pressure ranges.
Also, do you need equal or linear percentage or other characteristics. Understand that these flow characteristics will vary across different processes, and the valve must be able to assure stability across all conditions.
Owing to the criticality of the process environment, many processes require remote control and monitoring. It is important to ensure that the valve chosen complies with the remote process management systems.
What type of fluid will be transferred at your processing plant? The control valves are designed for controlling the flow of media such as natural gas, compressed air, steam, liquefied petroleum, gasoline, hydraulic fluid, slurry, and water.
So, it needs to be ensured that the valve works perfectly for the application fluids.
Most industrial processes are conducted in ambient, harsh environments; so, if the chosen valve is unable to meet these diverse requirements, then it may fail to serve the purpose.
You need to check if the valve can withstand the extremes and minimums as well as upset conditions, and can operate virtually.
For more information, please visit JIS Y Type Strainer.