CHARACTERISTICS AND TYPES OF VALVES

-Celshia Mary P(URK18BT005)

Valve is a device that regulates, controls or directs the flow of a fluid by
opening, closing, or partially obstructing fluid flow. A valve is a type of
mechanical device which controls the flow and also pressure of fluid within a
system.
Different types of valves are fond as: gate, globe, plug, ball, butterfly, check,
diaphragm, pinch, pressure relief, control valves etc. Particular kind of these
types has a number of models, each with different features and functional
capabilities. Some of these valves mentioned above are self-operated while
others manually or found with an actuator or pneumatic or hydraulic for to
operated.

CHARACTERISTICS OF VALVES:

 Valves help stopping and starting a fluid flow. Depending on whether a

valve is open or closed, it will let pass the process fluid or halt the fluid.
 These helps in throttling the fluid flow during its usage. Some of the
valves mentioned let you throttle the fluid depending open % of total
opening. Lesser the opening be, higher will the throttling and otherwise.
 These helps in controlling the direction of a fluid flow. Multiport valve
will let you decide the way fluid will go.
 Valves regulate the flow or pressure within the piping system. Some of
the automatic control valves also maintain the flow and pressure within
the system by just adjusting opening and closing.
 Valves also help to relieve pressure or vacuum from the piping system
and equipment. Pressure and vacuum relief valve will safeguard the
process system from overpressure and especially during vacuum
condition.

TYPES OF VALVES:

Following are the types of valves:

 Gate Valve
 Globe Valve
  Check Valve
 Plug valve
 Ball Valve
 Butterfly Valve
 Needle Valve
 Pinch Valve
 Pressure Relief Valve

1.Gate Valve: Gate valve is the most predominantly used valve in any process
plant. It is a linear motion valve used to start or stop fluid flow. These valves
are either in fully open or vice versa. Gate valves are used in almost all fluid
services mainly in air, fuel gas, feedwater, steam, lube oil, hydrocarbon, and
Gate valve provides good shutoff.

2.Globe valve: It is used to stop, start, and regulate the fluid flow. Globe Valves
are used in the systems mostly where flow control is needed and leak tightness
is also necessary. Globe valve always provide a better shut off as compared to
gate valve and it is costlier compared to gate valve.

3.Check valve: The check valve will help in preventing the backflow in the
piping system. The pressure of the fluid passing through a pipeline opens the
valve, while any kind of reversal of flow will close the valve.
4.Plug valve: Plug valve is a Quarter-turn rotary motion Valve that uses a
tapered or cylindrical plug to stop and start the flow of fluid. The disk is found
in the plug shape, which has a passage to pass the fluid. Plug valve is used as
on-off stop valves and is capable of providing bubble tight shutoff. Plug valve
can also be used in vacuum to high pressure and temperature applications.

5.Ball valve: This valve is a quarter-turn rotary motion valve which uses a
unique ball-shaped disk to stop or start the flow of fluid during the process.
Most ball valves are in the form of the quick-acting type, which commonly
requires a 90° turn of the valve handle to operate the valve. The ball valve is
comparatively smaller and lighter than a gate valve of the standard size and
rating.

6.Butterfly valve: A Butterfly valve is also a quarter-turn rotary motion valve,

which is used to stop, regulate, and also to start the flow of process. Butterfly
valve has a comparatively short circular body. Butterfly Valve is also suitable
for large valve applications because of its compact, lightweight design which
requires considerably less space, as compared to other valves used in
industries.

7. Needle valves: These Needle valves are similar to a globe valve in its design
with its biggest difference in the shape of sharp needle like a disk. Needle
valves are modelled to give very accurate control of flow in small diameter
type of piping systems. Interestingly, these got their unique name from their
sharp-pointed conical disc and matching seat.

8.Pinch valve: The pinch valve is commonly known as clamp valve. It is a linear
motion type of valve. It is mostly used to start, regulate, and also to stop fluid
flow. It uses a rubber tube, which is also known as a pinch tube and has a pinch
mechanism to control the fluid during the process. Pinch Valve is ideally most
suited for the handling of slurries, liquids consisting large amounts of
suspended solids, and systems that are used to convey solid material
pneumatically.
9.Pressure relief valve: A pressure Relief valve or a pressure safety valve are
valves used to protect an equipment or piping system during the condition of
an overpressure event or in case of vacuum. This valve also releases the
pressure or vacuum at pre-defined set pressure.

CONCLUSION:

There are various types of valve designs, types and models, with a wide and
variant range of industrial applications. All these satisfy one or more of the
important functions mentioned above. Valves are of expensive items, and it is
very much important that a correct valve is specified for the function during a
process, and must be constructed out of the correct material for the process
liquid.