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FAQ
  • What is a valve?

    A valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid (gases, fluidized solids, slurries, or liquids) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. The majority of valves are used in water reticulation, sewerage, oil and gas, power generation, mining, and chemical manufacturing.

    Ball valves are durable and usually work to achieve tight shutoff even after years of disuse. They are therefore an excellent choice for shutoff applications.
  • How many types of valves are used to control the flow of fluids?

    Valves can be categorized into the following design types, and although there are hundreds of variations, most of valves fit into these basic types:

        * Ball valves, used for on/off control without pressure drop.
        * Butterfly valves, used for flow regulation in large pipe diameters.
        * Choke valve, used for high pressure drops found in oil and gas wellheads.
        * Check valve, allows the fluid to pass in one direction only.
        * Diaphragm valve, some are sanitary predominantly used in the pharmaceutical and food industry.
        * Gate valve, mainly used for on/off control, with low pressure drop.
        * Globe valve, good for regulating flow.
        * Needle valve, used for accurate flow control.
        * Piston valve, used for regulating fluids that carry solids in suspension.
        * Pinch valve, used for slurry flow regulation.
        * Plug valve, slim valve used for on/off control but with some pressure drop.
  • What is a sanitary valve?

    A sanitary valve is designed for use in applications requiring clean or sterile processing. Sanitary valves are commonly used in dairy, food, pharmaceutical, medical, and chemical applications. Their common features include easy cleaning, crevice free, and polished contact surfaces.

    Important specifications when considering sanitary valves include diameter, working pressure, and operating temperature. The diameter is measured across the inlet or outlet port. The working pressure is the pressure at which the valve is designed to operate. The operating temperature is the full-required range of ambient operating temperature. Media types that sanitary valves can be configured to work with include gases, liquids, and liquids with suspended solids. The material temperature is the range of temperature that the valve can withstand and still function properly. This relates to the media being transported, not the ambient or operating temperature outside of the system.
  • What is a butterfly valve?

    A butterfly valve is normally used as a throttling valve to regulate a fluid flowing through a section of pipe. It consists of a circular body and a rotary motion disk closure member which is pivotally supported by its stem.

    The valve is similar in operation to a ball valve. A plate or disc is positioned in the center of the pipe. The disc has a rod through it connected to an actuator on the outside of the valve. Rotating the actuator turns the disc either parallel or perpendicular to the flow. Unlike a ball valve, the disc is always present within the flow; therefore a pressure drop is always induced in the flow, regardless of valve position.
  • What is a ball valve?

    A ball valve is a valve that opens by turning a handle attached to a ball inside the valve. The ball has a hole, or port, through the middle so that when the port is in line with both ends of the valve, flow will occur. When the valve is closed, the hole is perpendicular to the ends of the valve, and flow is blocked. The handle or lever will be in line with the port position letting you "see" the valve's position.

  • What is a check valve?

    A check valve is a valve normally allows fluid (liquid or gas) to flow through it in only one direction. Check valves have two openings in the body, one for fluid to enter and the other for fluid to leave. There are various types of check valves used in a wide variety of applications.

    Check valves work automatically and most are not controlled by a person or any external control; accordingly, most do not have any valve handle or stem. They are operated by the flow of fluid in the piping. The bodies (external shells) of most check valves are made of plastic or metal.
  • How to install a valve?

    Whenever you are going to install a valve, be sure you know the function the valve is going to perform - that is, whether it must start flow, stop flow, regulate flow, regulate pressure, or prevent backflow. Inspect the valve body for the information that is stamped upon it by the manufacturer: type of system (oil, water, and gas), operating pressure, direction of flow, and other information.

    You should also know the operating characteristics of the valve, the metal from which it is made, and the type of end connection with which it is fitted. Operating characteristics and the material are factors that affect the length and kind of service that a valve will give; end connections indicate whether or not a particular valve is suited to the installation.
     
    When you install valves, ensure they are readily accessible and allow enough headroom for full operation. Install valves with stems pointing upward if possible. A stem position between straight up and horizontal is acceptable, but avoid the inverted position (stem pointing downward). If the valve is installed with the stem pointing downward, sediment will collect in the bonnet and score the stem. Also, in a line that is subject to freezing temperatures, liquid that is trapped in the valve bonnet may freeze and rupture it.
  • What are pipe fittings?

    Pipe fittings are used in pipe systems to connect straight pipe or tubing sections, to adapt to different sizes or shapes, and to regulate fluid flow, for example.

    Pipe fittings cover many components that connect pipe ends for in-line, offset, multi-port, and mounting configurations. Pipe and pipe fittings are manufactured from a wide variety of materials for the transport of a wide variety of fluids.