CPIs Valves: types, classification,

and Selection

Valves
A valve is a device that regulates, directs, or controls the
flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing
various passageways.
Valves duties are:
Stopping and starting the flow of fluid.
Controlling the direction of fluid flow.
Controlling the amount of fluid flow.
Relieving over pressure of plants components or piping.

Valves Classification
Valves are commonly classified based on the
mechanical motion into:
Linear motion valves:
The valves with valve-closure member moves in a straight
line to allow, stop, or throttle the flow such as gate valve..

Rotary motion valves:

The valves with valve-closure member travels along an
angular or circular path such as butterfly and ball valves.

Quarter turn valves:

Valves required approximately a quarter turn motion of
the stem to go to fully open from a fully closed position.

Linear motion valves

Gate valve

Globe valve

Linear motion valves

Rotary motion valves

Valve Selection

Serious industrial processes require serious

valve choices. Understanding the fundamental
differences in valve types can assist with those
important decisions.

1. Gate valve:
Gate valves are very common due
to their simple design and ease of
operation.
The gate is raised by a threaded
stem to allow fluid flow.
Gate valves are not recommended
for throttling, or restricting fluid
flow by having the valve partially
open. So they operate in either
the fully open or fully closed
position.

 Gate valves open and close very slowly

to prevent fluid hammers that could
damage the piping system.
A slide gate valve is a kind of gate valve.
Gate valves are found in a variety of
industries, such as underground water
or sewage disposal applications. They
are also commonly found in distribution
service lines.
They are also used for low-pressure
steam, and non-corrosive gas or oil.

 Gate Valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Suitable for high
temperature and high
pressure situations.
Low pressure drop when
fully open.
Low leakage, low
maintenance, and little
noise.

Disadvantages:
Slow response times requiring
large actuator forces.
Prone to vibration when the
valve is partially open.
Subject to erosion from the
high velocity flow that occurs
when the gate is opened.

2. Globe valve:
Globe valves are the most common
type of valves for regulating flow
(they are primarily used for
throttling purposes).
Globe valves are used in many
applications which regulate flow.
Can be connected with control
system.

 Globe Valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Efficient throttling with
minimal damage to the
valve.
Large number of design
options.
A pneumatic diaphragm
actuator and control system
can be added for precise
throttling.

Disadvantages:
Highest pressure drops of all
valves.
Requires a lot of force to
open or close the valve (when
it is big).
Expensive.

3. Diaphragm valve:
Diaphragm valves are excellent for

regulating flow.
The diaphragm is the only part of the
valve that is exposed to the fluid which
lead to minimize erosion effects.
Two general designs exist, straightway
and weir.
In straightway valves, the pipe is
completely straight. This design does
not obstruct the flow of fluid and,
hence, it is well suited for slurry and
higher-flow applications.
Weir-style diaphragm valve, in which the
two pipes bend up toward the center of
the valve. This design is used for higher
pressure applications.

 The diaphragms can be made from a wide

variety of materials including rubber.

Diaphragm valves are considered to cause the

least contamination, and are often used in
high purity applications such as water
treatment and food industry.

 Diaphragm Valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Excellent for fluids
containing suspended solids.
Maintenance is inexpensive
and not required often,
given the long life of the
diaphragm.
Will not contaminate the
fluid, and the fluid doesn't
damage the valve.

Disadvantages:
Limited to pressures of
approximately 50 psi.
Limited to temperatures
below 180F.
Has bad flow characteristics,
requires high and varying
force to close valve.

4. Ball valve:
Ball valves are the most common
and multipurpose type of rotary
valves.
They are quick opening and
closing.
They can handle fluids that
contain suspended solids.
They are not used for throttling.

 Ball Valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Highest flow capacities.
Low pressure drop and low
leakage.
Rapid opening and relatively
contamination-free.
Easy maintain.

Disadvantages:
Limited to low temperatures
that have little effect on their
plastic seats (if made from
plastic).
Typically, the entire valve
must be removed from the
line for maintenance.
Some fluid may be trapped in
the ball in the closed position,
damaging the valve.

5. Plug valve:
Plug valves are the oldest and simplest
type of valve still used in industry.
They are quick opening and closing and
they do not leak.
Plug valves are very similar to ball
valves. Instead of a ball, a rotary cylinder
or tapered plug with a hole through it is
rotated 90 to allow or prevent flow.
Plug valves, like ball valves, are not used
for throttling.
Plug valves are typically found in the gas
industry and the wastewater industry.

 Plug Valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Pressure drop is low.
High flow capacities.
Low leakage.
Rapid opening and relatively
contamination-free.

Disadvantages:
Some fluid may be trapped in
the cylinder while in the
closed position, damaging the
valve.

6. Butterfly Valve:
Butterfly valves are the largest type of valve,
and they are commonly used for gas and
steam control.
Butterfly valves have a very simple design.
They consist of a flow controlling disc that
rotates to open and close positions at right
angles to the flow path.
The rotating disc is the same size as the
internal diameter of the pipe. Seals are
needed to help prevent leaking.
They are typically used in large pipes with
diameters greater than 4 inches, and in
situations in which some leaking is relatively
unimportant.
They are applicable for both on/off and
throttling applications.

 Butterfly Valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Require less space than any
other valve.
Inexpensive.
Excellent flow characteristics.
Require a steady amount of
force to open/close the
valve.
Very low pressure drop.

Disadvantages:
Slow response characteristics.
Require large actuator forces.
Must be custom-designed for
each use.

7. Pressure Relief Valves:

Pressure relief valves, commonly known as PRVs, prevent
system breakdown by releasing pressure.
They open when the system pressure becomes too high or too
low, and reclose once the system pressure has been restored to
a safe level.
The main function of a pressure relief valve is for safety
considerations.

 PRVs Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Protects equipment from
rupturing and other
mechanical failures.
Does not need replacement
often.
Allows for a system to
continuously run at safe
pressures.

Disadvantages:
Can be expensive to install,
especially at small sizes.
Does not perform well at low
temperatures.
Does not perform well with
viscous fluids, or if there are
solids suspended in the fluid.
Requires a minimum system
pressure for use. If pressure
drops below the minimum
value the actuator becomes
confused and does not know
whether to open or close the
valve.

8. Solenoid valve:
It is an electromechanically operated valve that is controlled by
an electric current through a solenoid in the case of a two-port
valve in which the flow is switched on or off.
It is commonly used for on-off control.

 Solenoid valve Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages:
Fast response.
Easy maintain.

Disadvantages:
Can not used for throttling
the flow.
It is subjected to mechanical
failures due to the
hammering effect.