A Guide to the Best 10 Types of Industrial Valve

As essential components of industrial processes and in our daily lives, industrial valves are quite popular. These valves are categorized into ten prime types based on their use in specific industries. Regardless of the type, all of them serve the same purpose: regulating liquid or gas flow.

It is crucial to understand the different valve designs available when selecting a valve for an industrial application.

Ball Valve

A ball valve is a quarter-turn valve. In this valve, a hollow-shaped spherical disc or ball is the center, with a hole placed in the passageway. The ball opens and closes the valve. In order to open or close a ball valve, an outside source can rotate the valve 90 degrees, back and forth, or a quarter turn. 

Advantages:

• Ball valves are used for fluid control and throttling control.

• Due to its simple structure, the ball valve is easy to operate.

• Despite years of use, the ball valve still works perfectly.

• As the ball valve is not affected by the working medium, it is quite reliable.

• Low repair or maintenance costs

• Both high-temperature and high-pressure applications benefit from ball valves' tight shut-off characteristics.

Applications:

Ball valves are quite useful for controlling fluid flows in industrial and commercial processes. Most commonly, ball valves are used in the power, marine, petrochemical, and catalytic reforming industries. Ball valves can withstand pressures up to 10,000 psi and temperatures up to 400°F if they are designed precisely.

Butterfly Valve

Butterfly valves look like thin metal discs and are another type of quarter-turn valve. Because it can be rotated to 90 degrees, it is called a 90-degree disc. For a specific system, the rotational disc regulates liquid flow. Depending on how the valves are operated, liquid flow can be allowed or restricted.

Advantages:

• Minimum pressure loss

• Easy to install and operate

• Easily handles huge capacities of fluids

• Lower repair work or maintenance required

• Quite inexpensive compared to other valve types

Applications:

For low-pressure and low-temperature applications, butterfly valves are the best choice. Butterfly valves are used for flow isolation in water and gas applications.

Backflow prevention valves are used in the food and beverage industry where excessive wash processes are implemented. There are many applications, so we are carefully choosing the right butterfly valve supplier.

Gate Valve

Gate valves are an important part of the valve family, primarily used for isolation. Gate valves are distinguished by the linear motion they use to start and stop fluid flow. Gate valves are commonly found in residential and commercial buildings to restrict liquid flow as a control device.

Advantages:

• It is possible to use gate valves in both directions. The valve's bi-directional property enhances its efficiency in controlling liquid flow quickly.

• Known for their tight sealing properties, gate valves completely restrict the flow of liquid.

• The loss of pressure through gate valves is hardly noticeable. The minimal loss of pressure increases the durability of pipes and ducts.

• Different gate valves can be designed to meet the needs of different applications. By using wedge-shaped gate valves, the fluid hammers can be avoided.

Applications:

Most commonly, gate valves are used to open and close fluid pathways in linear media. Irrigation and chemical plants use them to control fluids and gasses between -200C and 700C.

Plug Valve

The plug valve is another member of the top valve family. The disc within the valve acts as a seal on or off a plug or cylinder. A plug valve works similarly to a ball valve in terms of its operation or mechanism. Typically, it is a type of valve known for its rotational motion that begins or hinders fluid flow. It is named after the shape and design of the valve disk as a plug.

Advantages:

• Easy working mechanism

• Reliable and versatile

• Minimal pressure drop

• Low maintenance and functionality cost

Applications:

In applications where debris is present in high quantities, plug valves are commonly used. Plug valves are also used in high-temperature applications and sewage systems.

Check valve

Reactive valves are activated by pressure differences. There is no need for power or an external source to operate these valves. In many industrial processes, check valves are used to prevent the backflow of fluid.

Advantages:

• Easy to operate

• Highly versatile and highly durable

• Low maintenance and rust-free

Applications:

In wastewater systems, check valves are commonly used. In backflow prevention applications, check valves form a tight seal that prevents debris from entering waterways. Stormwater control, flood prevention, corrosive slurry handling, and sewer system control are also suitable industrial applications for check valves.

Globe Valve

Globe valves are essential members of the top valve family. To throttle flow, globe valves use linear or straight motion. It is evident from its name that these valves have a round body with two distinct halves separated by a disc that opens or closes.

As with the gate valve, the globe valve can be easily moved to allow liquid to flow. As a result of this property, globe valves are appropriate for applications in which pressure drops are not required to be high.

Advantages:

• Minimum fluid leakage

• Easy adjustment to increase or lower flow

• Good shutting mechanism

Applications:

Globe valves are ideal for managing leakage issues in residential and commercial settings. There are many industrial applications for globe valves, including cooling systems, chemical feed systems, and feedwater systems.

Pinch Valve

Pinch valves are manufactured with molded rubber and a strong pinching mechanism. Pinching the membrane or lowering the bar or gate shuts off the fluid flow. The valve's unique design and construction set it apart from other kinds.

Advantages:

• Inherent abrasive and corrosion-resistant feature

• Operation is possible, for both hand-wheel or automatically

• Non-clogging operation

• Versatile to operate in adverse conditions

• Low maintenance cost

• Seal drop-tight

Applications:

Manual or air-operated pinch valves are ideal for fibrous and corrosive applications. Other applications include paper manufacturing, pharmaceutical production, and non-abrasive products.

Needle Valve

In general, these valves are small and designed to pass liquids or gases. It is an important part of the big valve family that shuts off liquid flow. This valve is distinguished from other types by its elaborately designed structure.

Advantages:

• Works best under high-pressure conditions

• Do not require an external

• Ensure precise control flow

• Protect fragile gauges

• Power source for operating

Applications:

Ideally, needle valves are used in vacuum services or other devices that require accuracy. Most commonly, these valves are used as a regulator of media in calibration applications. As an example, needle valves find their prime applications in vacuum systems for controlling gas flow, such as filling gas-filled vacuum tubes. Also, needle valves are used in certain industries to shut off anhydrous ammonia supplies. The needle valve's tiny opening at the screw end fits perfectly with a long, tapered seat and a needle-shaped plunger. With a small opening and a fine-threaded stem, the needle valves can easily be shut down with a finger tight.

Diaphragm Valve

Diaphragm valves also known as membrane valves consist of a valve body with a diaphragm, multiple ports, and a saddle behind the diaphragm. Materials used to manufacture diaphragm valves depend on the purpose for which they are designed. Typically, diaphragm valves are made from metal, plastic, or wood.

Advantages:

• Best to use for throttling service.

• Low maintenance required

• Easily handle corrosive fluids, radioactive fluids, fibrous slurries, and other fluids.

• Near linear flow characteristics

• Stem leakage free

• Quick opening because of the large shutoff area.

• High sealing performance with low torque

• Perfect for hazardous chemicals and radioactive fluids.

• Easy and secure diaphragm replacement

Applications:

Diaphragm valves have bi-directional characteristics that make them perfect for on/off valves. Diaphragm valves are widely used for low-pressure and restrained throttling applications, unlike other kinds of valves. These valves are ideal for systems where leakage cannot be tolerated due to their leak-tight characteristics. A diaphragm valve's application is determined by the material used to construct it. In corrosive environments, stainless steel or PVC valves are preferred. Diaphragm valves are commonly used in the food processing, brewing, and pharmaceutical industries because of their ability to restrict flow.

Sanitary Valve

There is an increasing interest in sanitary valves all over the world. It is largely due to the preference for hygiene in piping systems, particularly in edible industries. Unlike other types of valves, this one is specifically designed for sanitary purposes. The name of these valves comes from this reason.

A variety of materials can be used to manufacture sanitary valves, such as plastic and brass, but stainless steel is most commonly used. No matter what the material choice is, the surface that contacts the process should be well polished to prevent media clinging.

Advantages:

• Easy replacement with a high-precision CNC.

• Easy opening and closing process with less friction.

• The valves are able to withstand a higher level of torque without breaking.

• Variable angle valves ranging from 0 to 15 degrees to 90 degrees. Compared to other valve types, this aspect offers greater flow control flexibility.

• Having detachable connections means low maintenance is required.

• Provide a high level of sanitation, making them ideal for products that are sensitive to contamination.

Applications:

Sanitary valves are designed for applications requiring clean or germ-free processing. Keeping a surface sanitary means preventing bacteria from feeding upon crevices and cavities. Industries that use sanitary valves include food & beverage, sterilizing equipment, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical, and cosmetics.

There is a wide range of stainless steel sanitary fittings and valves available for any application, including sanitary ball valves, sanitary check valves, and sanitary fittings. Valve selection can be based on temperature and pressure piping systems in order to meet your requirements. It is possible to rotate disks in order to allow liquids to flow freely according to your needs.

Final Words!

In every household, industrial valves are used on pipes in some major industries including gas, oil, mining, water, and sewage. Some types of valves are even used in household activities, such as regulating gas to a gas cooker or regulating water flow to washing machines.

Manually operated valves can be controlled while automatic valves may require external input sources. Considering the setup and input type, these complex valves actually require an actuator that strokes the valve. Their functionality is determined by the position of the valves that provide control to meet different needs.

All of the above are basic valve types; however, there are several other types as well, depending on the application and design. The difference in fluid pressure is used for vacuum delay valves, heart valves, and proportioning valves, for example.