Introduction to Valve:

What are Valves?

Valves are mechanical device that controls the flow and pressure within a system or process. They are
essential components of a piping system that conveys liquids, gases, vapors, slurries etc.

Functions from Valves are:

 Stopping and starting flow

 Reduce or increase a flow

 Controlling the direction of flow

 Regulating a flow or process pressure

 Relieve a pipe system of a certain pressure

Some valves are self-operated while others manually or with an actuator or pneumatic or
hydraulic is operated.

Basic parts of the valves:

All valves have the following basic parts: the body, bonnet, trim (internal elements), actuator, and
packing.

Valve Body: The valve body, sometimes called the shell, is the primary boundary of a pressure valve.
It is the framework that holds all the parts together. The body, the first pressure boundary of a valve,
resists fluid pressure loads from connecting piping. It receives inlet and outlet piping through
threaded, bolted, or welded joints.

Valve Bonnet: The cover for the opening in the body is the bonnet, and it is the second most important
boundary of a pressure valve. It is commonly connected to the body by a threaded, bolted, or welded
joint. During manufacture of the valve, the internal components, such as stem, disk etc., are put into
the body and then the bonnet is attached to hold all parts together inside.

Valve Trim : Valve's trim is a collective name for the replaceable parts, in a valve. A typically Trim
design includes a disk, seat, stem, and sleeves needed to guide the stem. A valve's performance is
determined by the disk and seat interface and the relation of the disk position to the seat. Because of
the trim, basic motions and flow control are possible.

Valve Disk and Seat(s):

The disc is the part which allows, throttles, or stops flow, depending on its position. The disk
is the third most important primary pressure boundary. With the valve closed, full system
pressure is applied across the disk, and for this reason, the disk is a pressure related
component. Most valves are named, the design of their disks. The seat or seal rings provide
the seating surface for the disk.
Valve Stem: The valve stem provides the necessary movement to the disc for opening or
closing the valve, and is responsible for the proper positioning of the disk. It is connected to
the valve handwheel, actuator, or the lever at one end and on the other side to the valve disc.
Valve Stem Packing For a reliable seal between the stem and the bonnet, a gasket is needed. This is
called a Packing. Packing, available in several materials, like Teflon®, elastomeric material, fibrous
material etc.

Valve Actuator: Hand-operated valves are usually equipped with a handwheel attached to the valve's
stem which is rotated clockwise or counter clockwise to close or open a valve. An actuator in the
broadest definition is a device that produces linear and rotary motion of a source of power under the
action of a source of control. Basic actuators are used to fully open or fully close a valve. Actuators for
controlling or regulating valves are given a positioning signal to move to any intermediate position.
There a many different types of actuators, but the following are some of the commonly used valve
actuators:  Gear Actuators  Electric Motor Actuators  Pneumatic Actuators
Gate valves:

Gate valves are primarily designed to start or stop flow, and when a straight-line flow of fluid and
minimum flow restriction are needed. In service, these valves generally are either fully open or fully
closed.

The disk of a Gate valve is completely removed when the valve is fully open; the disk is fully drawn up
into the valve Bonnet. This leaves an opening for flow through the valve at the same inside diameter
as the pipe system in which the valve is installed.

Construction of a Gate valve

Gate valves consists of three main parts : body, bonnet, and trim. The body is generally connected to
other equipment by means of flanged, screwed or welded connections. The bonnet, which containing
the moving parts, is attached to the body, usually with bolts, to permit maintenance. The valve trim
consists of the stem, the gate, the disc or wedge and the seat rings.

Disks of a Gate valve

Gate valves are available with different disks or wedges. Ranging of the Gate valves is usually made by
the type of wedge used.

 Solid wedge is the most commonly used disk by its simplicity and strength.A valve with this
type of wedge can be installed in each position and it is suitable for almost all liquids. The solid
wedge is a single-piece solid construction, and is practically for turbulent flow.
 Flexible wedge is a one-piece disc with a cut around the perimeter to improve the ability to
correct mistakes or changes in the angle between the seats.
 Split wedge is self-adjusting. This wedge type consists of two-piece construction which seats
between the tapered seats in the valve body. This type of wedge is suitable for the treatment
of non-condensing gases and liquids at normal temperatures, particularly corrosive liquids.

Most common wedges in Gate valves

Stem of a Gate valve

The stem, which connects the handwheel and disk with each other, is responsible for the proper
positioning of the disk. Stems are usually forged, and connected to the disk by threaded or other
techniques. To prevent leakage, in the area of the seal, a fine surface finish of the stem is necessary.
Gate valves are classified as either.
 Rising Stem
 Non Rising Stem
For a valve of the Rising Stem type, the stem will rise above the handwheel if the valve is opened. This
happens, because the stem is threaded and mated with the bushing threads of a Yoke. A Yoke is an
integral part from a Rising Stem valve and is mounted to the Bonnet.

For a valve of the non Rising Stem type, there is no upward stem movement if the valve is opened.
The stem is threaded into the disk. As the handwheel on the stem is rotated, the disk travels up or
down the stem on the threads while the stem remains vertically stationary.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Gate valves

Advantages
 Gate valves require very low torque to open and close the valve.
 Gate valves have very low fluid resistance.
 The design is simple, and the structure of the valve body is simple.
 Gate valves can be used on the flow path in both directions. This means that the gate valves
are bi-directional and give shut-off in both directions.
 The working medium does not affect the sealing surface much.
 Gate valves provide better shut-off features than other valves.
 There is a very low-pressure drop during operations.
 Gate valves are affordable compared to other valves like ball valves, even if the quality and
size are the same.
 Gate valves work under both high pressure and high temperature.They are easy to maintain.
Disadvantages
 You cannot use gate valves to regulate flow or even throttle it.
 Gate valves make noise and vibrate sometimes.
 These valves are more subject to wear and tear of the seat and disc.
 The operation is slow. This means that they take longer to open and close as compared to
other valves.
 Large envelope space is needed to install, maintain, and operate gate valves.

Globe valves:
A Globe valve is a linear motion valve and are primarily designed to stop, start and regulate flow.
Conventional Globe valves may be used for isolation and throttling services. Although these valves
exhibit slightly higher pressure drops than straight=through valves (e.g., gate, plug, ball, etc.), they
may be used where the pressure drop through the valve is not a controlling factor.

Body designs of Globe valves:

There are three primary body designs for Globe valves, namely.. Tee Pattern or Z-body, Angle Pattern
and Wye Pattern or Y-body body.
Disk and Seat and Stem of Globe valves:

Disk: The most common disk designs for Globe valves are: ball disk, composition disk and the plug
disk. Ball disk design is used primarily in low pressure and low temperature systems. It is capable of
throttling flow, but in principle it is applied to stop and start flow.

Composition disk design uses a hard, non-metallic insert ring on the disk, which ensures a tighter
closure.

Plug disk design provides better throttling than ball or composition designs. They are available in many
different designs and they are all long and tapered.

Seat : Globe valve seats are either integrated or screwed in to the valve body.

Stem : Globe valves uses two methods for connecting the disk and the stem.. the T-slot and the disk
nut construction. In the T-slot design, the disk slides over the stem, while in the disk nut design, the
disk is screwed into the stem.

Construction of a Globe valve:

Globe valves usually have rising stems. Components of the Globe valve are similar to those of the gate
valve. This type of valve has seats in a plane parallel or inclined to the line of flow.

The principal variation in Globe-valve design is in the types of discs employed. Plug-type discs have a
long, tapered configuration with a wide bearing surface. In the composition disc, the disc has a flat
face that is pressed against the seat opening like a cap. This type of seat arrangement is not as suitable
for high differential pressure throttling.

The seating surface is ground to ensure full-bearing surface contact when the valve is closed.

Flow direction of Globe valves:

For applications with low temperature, Globe valves are normally installed so that the pressure is
under the disc. This contributes an easy operation and helps protect the packing.

For applications with high temperature steam service, Globe valves are installed so that the pressure
is above the disk. Otherwise, the stem will contract upon cooling and tend to lift the disk off the sea t.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Globe valves:

Advantages:

 Globe valves are wear-resistant. The low friction makes the opening and closing process
effortless.
 Globe valves are very easy to maintain because there is only one sealing surface.
 Asbestos and graphite have been used as fillers here. So they can resistant high temperature.
 Globe valves have a better shut off than gate valves.
 Wear and tear are relatively less in these valves as compared to others.
 An automatic actuator usually operates the globe valves.
Disadvantages:
 The minimum flow resistance of globe valves is generally higher than other types of valves.
  The speed at which the valve opens is also low.
 Globe valves can be expensive as compared to gate valves.
 They weigh more than other valves with the same pressure value.
 You may face a high head loss if the valve is obstructed.

Typical Applications of Globe valves:

 Cooling water systems where flow needs to be regulated

 Fuel oil system where flow is regulated and leaktightness is of importance
 High-point vents and low-point drains when leaktightness and safety are major considerations
 Feedwater, chemical feed, condenser air extraction, and extraction drain systems
 Boiler vents and drains, main steam vents and drains, and heater drains
 Turbine seals and drains
 Turbine lube oil system and others

Ball valves:

A Ball valve is a quarter-turn rotational motion valve that uses a ball-shaped disk to stop or start flow.
If the valve is opened, the ball rotates to a point where the hole through the ball is in line with the
valve body inlet and outlet. If the valve is closed, the ball is rotated so that the hole is perpendicular
to the flow openings of the valve body and the flow is stopped.

Types of Ball valves:

Ball valves are basically available in three versions : full port, venturi port and reduced port. The full-
port valve has an internal diameter equal to the inner diameter of the pipe. Venturi and reduced-port
versions generally are one pipe size smaller than the line size.
The valve ends are available as butt welding, socket welding, flanged, threaded and others.

Stem design

The stem in a Ball valve is not attached to the ball. Usually it has a rectangular portion at the ball, and
that fits into a slot cut into the ball. The enlargement permits rotation of the ball as the valve is opened
or closed.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Ball valves

Advantages:
 Ball valves are reliable for applications in corrosive media and liquids with low boiling points
because they don’t get stuck on the go.
 The sealing system is excellent on both sides.
 Ball valves have the lowest flow resistance.
 Ball valves open and fast reasonably fast. Some of them open and close in 0.05- 0.1 seconds.
 The ball valves can be sealed entirely even if pressure and temperature are both high.
  Ball valves are compact and don’t weigh a lot. This is a favourable feature for valves. Some
may even say that valves have the most reasonable or ideal structure among all valves.
 They work well even without the use of a lubricant.
 The welded body of ball valves can be buried directly into the ground, so the valve’s internals
doesn’t erode.
 Ball valves are long-lasting and will last you a minimum of 10 years!

Disadvantages:
 The valve seat in a ball valve is usually made up of Teflon. Teflon has a very high coefficient of
expansion and is sensitive to cold flow. It also has low thermal conductivity. If the ball valve’s
design isn’t made keeping in mind the limitations of Teflon, you might be faced with problems.
When the seat material hardens, the seal may not be as effective.
 The Teflon used in the construction of ball valves does not work well with temperatures above
180 degrees. The sealing material ages when the temperature is high.
 The adjustment performance isn’t good as compared to other valves.

Ball valves applications:

 Steam service
 Drains and vents in liquid, gaseous, and other fluid services
 Ball Valves are used for flow and pressure control and shut off for corrosive fluids, slurries,
normal liquid and gases.
 They are used in the oil and natural gas industry, but also find a place in many manufacturing
sectors, chemical storage, and even residential uses.
Check valves:
Check valves are automatic valves that open with forward flow and close with backward flow. A
common other name for check valve is Non Return Valve (NRV).

The pressure of the fluid passing through a system opens the valve, while any reversal of flow will
close the valve. Exact operation will vary depending on the type of check valve mechanism. Most
common types of check valves are swing, lift (piston and ball), butterfly, stop and tilting-disk.

Types of Check valves:

Swing Check valve:
A basic swing Check valve consists of a valve body, a bonnet, and a disk that is connected to a hinge.
The disk swings away from the valve-seat to allow flow in the forward direction, and returns to valve-
seat when upstream flow is stopped, to prevent backflow.

The disc in a swing type check valve is unguided as it fully opens or closes. The valve allows full,
unobstructed flow and automatically closes as pressure decreases. These valves are fully closed when
flow reaches zero, in order to prevent backflow. Turbulence and pressure drop in the valve are very
low.
Lift Check or Piston valve:

The seat design of a lift-check valve is similar to a globe valve. The disc is usually in the form of a piston
or a ball.

Lift check valves are particularly suitable for high-pressure service where velocity of flow is high. In lift
check valves, the disc is precisely guided and fits perfectly into the dashpot. Lift check valves are
suitable for installation in horizontal or vertical pipe-lines with upward flow.

Flow to lift check valves must always enter below the seat. As the flow enters, the piston or ball is
raised within guides from the seat by the pressure of the upward flow. When the flow stops or
reverses, the piston or ball is forced onto the seat of the valve by both the backflow and gravity.

Applications:
• Check valves are used in a variety of markets and applications as they contain simple design and
versatile material options.
• They help to prevent backflow and maintain pressure.
• Check valves can be seen in industries such as refining, petrochemical, chemical, etc., oilfield
production, water, steam, refining petro, and viscous fluids.
• They are also commonly found in waste-water management systems and in manufacturing.

Check Valves Advantages:

 Check valves cause a decrease in downtime.
 Low maintenance costs.
 Check valves prevent low output due to valve failure.
 The risk of valve failure by check valves is significantly reduced.
 Equipment such as pumps and compressors are secured from damage due to backward flow
by check valve.

Check Valves Disadvantages:

 The internal parts of a check valve cannot be assessed.
 Check valves have certain limitations on installation configurations.
 A valve disc can sometimes stay stuck in an open position, and this can cause problems.

 Sometimes it becomes difficult to determine whether the valve is closed or open because the
moving parts are closed.