Introduction to Valves: What Are Valves & How Do They Work?

Introduction to Valves: What Are Valves & How Do They Work?

 

 

WHAT ARE VALVES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

At their most basic, valves are devices that work to control, regulate or direct flow within a system or process.

 

They often feature a range of characteristics that help to define their ideal application.

 

However, whether you’re looking to control flow, provide safety in a system that is piping liquids, solids, gasses or anything in between, there are likely stainless steel valves available to help.

 

Valves provide several functions, including:

 

Starting or stopping flow based on the valve state

Regulating flow and pressure within a piping system

Controlling the direction of flow within a piping system

Throttling flow rates within a piping system

Improving safety through relieving pressure or vacuum in a piping system

VALVE OPENING METHODS EXPLAINED

While many valves accomplish similar goals, how they do so mechanically can vary.

 

How a valve opens and closes will not only impact the overall performance but also determine how much control you have over the flow and how quickly the valve can operate.

 

Most valves fit into one of three categories:

 

Multi-Turn valves: Think of these valves like a screw or piston. You crank the handle and the plug, plate, membrane, or other controlling obstruction moves into the path of the pipe blocking access. Depending on the valve, these can have higher or lower differentials allowing you to open or close them at various speeds.

Quarter turn valves: Quarter-turn valves offer a full range of motion in a 90-degree turn of the handle. This makes them ideal for situations where precision isn’t as important as rapid action and easy opening or closing.

 

You might also see valves classified by function instead of design.

 

Common functional designations and their common design types include:

 

Isolation Valves: Ball, butterfly, diaphragm, gate, pinch, piston, and plug valves

Regulation Valves: Ball, butterfly, diaphragm, globe, needle, pinch, and plug valves

Safety Relief Valves: Pressure release and vacuum relief valves

Non-Return Valves: Swing check and lift check valves

Special Purpose Valves: Multi-port, float, foot, knife gate, and line blind valves

VALVE SIZING EXPLAINED: KEEPING THINGS FLOWING

While valves might be a small part of your piping process or system in terms of space, they’re often a substantial portion of the design and build budget. They also have a significant impact on long-term costs and overall system performance.

 

Choosing a proper valve size is essential to both optimizing costs and ensuring safe, accurate, and reliable operation.

 

The first thing to consider is the overall size of the valve — both in terms of physical dimensions and in terms of internal size and flow rates (CV).

 

Choosing a valve that does not fit properly in the space required could result in added costs. Choosing a valve which does not provide the ideal flow rate can lead to inaccurate flow control at the least and complete system failure at worst.

 

For example, if your valve is too small, it could cause reduced flow downstream while creating back-pressure upstream. If the valve is too large, you’ll find that flow control is drastically reduced the further you move from fully open or fully closed.

 

When choosing the proper size, be sure to consider both the connector diameter and the overall flow rate of the valve compared to your needs. Some valves offer excellent flow while others constrict flow and increase pressure.

 

This means sometimes you must install a larger valve to adjust for flow than the adapter diameter alone might imply.

 

VALVE END CONNECTIONS: THE KEY TO A GOOD FIT AND PROPER OPERATION

With sizing and design out of the way, it’s also important to consider valve end connections.

 

Common Valve End Types. Source: Unified Alloys

While the most obvious implication here is choosing an end connection compatible with your piping, there are also functional characteristics to common end types that might make one valve more suited to your needs than another.

 

Common valve connections and ends include:

 

Screwed or Threaded: Often used in instrument connections or sample points

Flanged: The most common ends for piping use

Butt Welded: Typically used in high-pressure or high-temperature operations

Socket Welded: Commonly used on small bore piping where threaded connections are not permitted

Wafer and Lug: Often used for compact valves installed in systems with limited space

VALVE MATERIALS: ENSURING SAFETY AND LONG-LASTING PERFORMANCE

Depending on your intended use, the materials with which your valves are made might be a critical aspect in ensuring safe operation and reducing maintenance and replacement costs over the life of your operation.

 

Stainless steel valves are excellent options in a range of processing environments, including those involving corrosive media (such as chemicals, saltwater, and acids), environments with strict sanitation standards (such as food and beverage manufacturing and pharmaceuticals), and processes involving high pressure or high temperatures.

 

However, if you are processing solvents, fuels, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), choosing a valve material from a non-sparking material — such as brass, bronze, copper, or even plastic — is often a better option. In addition to selecting the correct body material, internal (wetted) trim parts should be evaluated for chemical compatibility as well. If your valve contains elastomers, they should also be evaluated for their chemical compatibility as well as pressure and temperature limitations.

 

VALVE STANDARDS: MEETING COMPLIANCE AND REGULATORY CONCERNS

Depending on your intended usage, you might find that valves must adhere to particular standards to meet regulatory requirements for safety, sanitation, or other concerns.

 

While there are too many standard organizations and potential regulations to cover in detail, common general standard organizations include:

 

CSA Group (CSA)

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

The American Society for Testing Materials International (ASTM International)

The Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS)

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

The Public Health and Safety Organization (NSF)

NACE International (NACE)

The American Petroleum Institute (API)

American Water Works Association (AWWA)

There are also industry-specific standards to consider.

 

Major standards organizations by industry include:

 

ASHRAE Valve Standards

ASME BPVC Valve Standards

ASSE Valve Standards

ISA Valve Standards

NFPA Valve Standards

SAE Valve Standards