Valves

Valves

Winter 2023
Sheridan College
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Recall!
Pumps – Move fluids. Give them velocity and pressure energy.
• Centrifugal pumps spin to accelerate fluid, increasing flow and pressure
• Positive-Displacement pumps (reciprocating or rotary type) push small amount of fluid at
high rate to increase flow and pressure

Pipes – Carry liquids from one place to another

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Controlling Flow
Valves open and close to allow liquids to flow in pipes

Usually designed for 100% On/Off

• Called “Shut-off” or blocking valves
• Alternatively, throttling valves meant for partial closure
(flow control)

Can be used to direct flow to desired places

Can be hand-controlled or automated

Valves

Types of valves, by their function:

• Shutoff valves
• Control valves
• Check valves
• Safety valves

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 Types of Valves
Valves are generally divided by mechanism of closure
action: Linear or Rotary
Most common valve types:
• Globe
• Gate
• Diaphragm
• Butterfly
• Plug
• Pressure Safety
• Check Valve
Selected based on flow characteristics and budget

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Figure 1: Sanitary Valves. www.alfalaval.com March 3, 2019
Shutoff Valves (Isolation/Stop Valves)

Installed in piping systems so that pumps and

other equipment can be removed for maintenance
and repair; to shut off flow if not required
The prime requirement - tight shut off when
closed and minimum restriction to flow when
open.
The types of valves used for this function: gate
valves, globe valves, ball valves, plug valves,
butterfly valves and diaphragm valves.
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 Globe Valves
The globe valve is most common

Suitable for wide range of applications

Plug is attached to a stem, which is moved

linearly in a cavity with a somewhat globular
shape

Can be used for throttling

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Globe valve. Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www.ctgclean.com
 Gate Valve
A flat or wedge-shaped plate that is
moved into or out of the flow path to
control flow

Widely used for manual on/off service, but

a few designs are used to control flows

Good for high pressure applications

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Gate valve. Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www.ctgclean.com
 Gate Valve

Sliding wedge (gate) moves perpendicular to the fluid flow

and the seats, between which the wedge rests in closed
position.
The gate can be lifted entirely out of the path of flow →
• turbulence and pressure drop in these valves are minimal
Not recommended for throttling.
Not used when there is a requirement for frequent activation
as their design susceptible to wear.

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Shutoff Valves –
Gate Valve

Consists of
• Handwheel
• Stem
• Packing (inside)
• Body
• Wedge
• Seat

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 Gate Valve
Closed Open

Body

Wedge

Seat

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 Diaphragm Valves
Flexible diaphragm serves as flow closure member

Mainly used with difficult fluids such as corrosive

liquids or slurries

Valve body can be lined with glass, plastic or teflon

Diaphragm is normally rubber, but in some cases it is

teflon.

Requires a high closure force

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Diaphragm valve. Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www.spiraxsarco.com
A diaphragm valve is a throttling control valve consisting of a
one-piece body incorporating an internal weir and a flexible
diaphragm with a molded elastomer backing attached to the
valve stem.
Diaphragm Valve

Can be used for liquids

containing suspended solids:
slurries and sludges
Handles corrosive fluids

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Diaphragm Valve

 Handwheel
 Stem and packing
(inside)
 Flexible membrane
 Weir (saddle)

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Diaphragm Valve

 Weir (left)
 Flexible membrane
(below)

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 Butterfly Valves
Most common rotary-motion valve

Range in size from ½ inch to over 200

inches
h
=
In the very large pipe sizes, the butterfly
valve is the only cost-effective solution for
the control valve application.

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Butterfly valve. Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www.tlv.com
A butterfly valve is a valve
with a disc that is rotated
perpendicular to the valve
body.
Control Valves – Butterfly Valve

 Operator

 Seat

 Body

 Disk

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 Ball Valve
Closure member is a sphere with an internal
passageway

Most widely used control valve after the globe

valve

Advances in seal design and sealing material

enables the ball valve to offer tight shutoff

Cost effective and well-suited to throttling

applications

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Ball valve. Retrieved October 22, 2013, from www.plumber24hours.co.uk
A ball valve is a throttling valve consisting of a straight-through
valve body enclosing a ball with a hole through the center.
Ball Valve Has a spherical disk with a hole
to control the flow
Very low pressure drop in
completely open position

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A plug valve is a modified
ball valve consisting of a
tapered cylinder with a slot
through it.

Rotating the cylinder cuts

off the liquid flow.

http://az-armaturen.de/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/produkt_kukenhahn-
ausgekleidet_iso-std-a-ca-300x300.png
 Plug Valve
Cylindrical or conically tapered "plugs" rotate
inside the valve body to control flow
• Similar to a globe valve

They are simple and often cost-effective

Plug is often removable for cleaning

Suitable for high pressure and throttling

applications

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Plug valve. Retrieved Feb 12, 2014, from
http://www.sapiensman.com/ESDictionary/P/Technical_vocabulary_Spanish(P9).htm
 Check Valve
Allows fluid (liquid or gas) to flow through it in only one
direction

Prevent backflow and back mixing

Examples are ball, diaphragm and swing check valves

Not usually suitable for high pressure or hygienic

application

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Check Valve. Retrieved March 4, 2019 from www.flomatic.com
 Swing Check Valve

disk hinge

outlet inlet

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Check Valves – Lift Check Valve
Has a flat disk that moves vertically within the valve body,
opening with vertical flow and closing by gravity or spring
action when flow stops [4]

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 Ball Check Valve

The movable part to block the flow is a spherical

ball
In some ball check valves, the ball is spring-loaded
to stay closed. [4]

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Foot Valves

These are check valves installed at the end of a

pump suction line in a well or tank
Function: to prevent loss of prime in centrifugal
pumps

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 Choosing The Right Valve
High Hygienic Corrosive Cost
Valve High Flow Notes
Pressure Application Fluids Effective
Globe X X
Single Seat X X X X
Gate X X
Diaphragm X X
Butterfly X X X
Ball X X X
Check X X
Plug X X X
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Valve Actuators

Manual
Pneumatic
Hydraulic
Electric

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References
1. Nathanson, Jerry A. “Basic Environmental Technology”, 5th Ed.,
Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008
2. Valve Manufacturers Association of America, “Common Valve
Types”, www.vma.org/?CommonValveTypes
3. Valve Manufacturers Association of America, “Valve Photo
Gallery”, www.vma.org/?page=ValveGallery
4. Integrated Publishing “Nuclear Power Fundamentals. Valves”
nuclearpowertraining.tpub.com/h1018v2/css/h1018v2_57.htm

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