Published: August 1,
Last updated: December 30,
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Knowing what makes a valve the right choice
Valves control gas and liquid flow in almost every process and system. As common as they are, choosing the right valve can sometimes be time consuming and confusing.
Begin valve selection by first gathering some basic information on system performance requirements. Knowing this will make it easier to find the right valve. The five tips in this article focus on how to match valve features with these requirements.
Tip 1 &#; Valve size and type
Choose the right valve type. Every valve needs to perform one or more basic functions:
Function determines the design of standard valve types. These are some of the most common valve types:
Properly sizing the valve is also important. The right valve choice means matching the valve&#;s size to expected flow through the system.
Common Valve Types at VMA, Valve Manufacturers Association of America
How to Select the Right Valve (with Pros and Cons) at Indelac Controls
Tip 2 &#; Materials of construction
Know the chemical compatibility requirements. The valve materials need to be compatible with the gases or liquids flowing through it. Plastic valves usually resist harsh or corrosive chemicals better than metal valves.
Miniature Ball Valves: Plastic, Brass or Stainless Steel? at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.
Chemical Compatibility Chart at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.
Tip 3 &#; Performance requirements
Determine the pressure and temperature requirements. Find out both the temperature and pressure ranges where the valve will be installed. Metal valves tend to withstand higher temperatures and pressures than plastic valves. Metal valves are also usually best for pressurized gases. This is because they tend to be stronger than plastic valves.
A Selection Criterion for Pump and Valve Reliability at Processing Magazine
Tip 4 &#; Check valves have special requirements
Be sure the new check valve will work as expected. Look at the response time needed as well as the cracking pressure required to open the valve.
Another consideration is normally closed vs normally open. There are basic check valve designs that require positive downstream pressure to open. These are usually referred to as normally closed check valves. There are other designs that require a positive backpressure to close. These are usually called normally open check valves. An appropriate choice between these two can improve check valve reliability. It is usually best to base this decision on whether the valve is usually open more or usually closed more during normal system operation.
Some check valve types may not work properly if mounted vertically instead of horizontally. Flow direction (upwards vs downwards) and fluid density both matter for check valve designs that can be mounted vertically.
Checking Out Check Valves &#; An Introduction at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.
Tip 5 &#;Maintenance
Don't forget to consider ongoing maintenance. Any valve choice should include attention to maintenance requirements. This is important for both valve reliability and application stability.
A good example of this are ball valves. They resist clogging, jamming or malfunctioning. But they are not suitable for adjusting flow. Using them to control flow can lead to leaking or premature failure.
Valve connection type affects the ease and speed of repair or replacement. Each connection type (threaded, barbed, push-in, Luer, and so on) has its pros and cons.
Plant and Equipment Maintenance at HSE, Health and Safety Executive
Knowing where to start makes valve choice faster and easier
There it is. Knowing particular information beforehand, makes choosing the right valve easier and more certain. There will always be complications like application requirements, operating conditions and chemical compatibility. Starting with basic valve requirements will simplify and speed up valve selection:
Some additional resources
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Valve Tightness. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
How ISM can help you find the right miniature valve for your application
Personalized customer service and resources available at the ISM website can be a great help when selecting a valve. Available online resources include chemical compatibility reference guides, dimensional drawings and product data sheets. Our online and PDF flow control valve catalogs provide access to a wide variety of miniature valve types, connection types, materials and sizes:
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We offer a line of ideas, so if you don't see it - ask for it. Let us turn your ideas for pneumatic or fluidic circuitry assemblies into reality &#; from conception to finished product.
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5 Tips For Selecting The Right Valve
Valves control liquid and gas flow in almost all systems and processes. They are found almost everywhere, in homes, in industries, in hospitals, you name it. As common as they are, it is still a big challenge in choosing the right valve for the right job.
The choice of a valve depends on the performance requirements of a system. Here are 5 tips for selecting the right valve.
Before you buy a valve, ensure that it will work the way you expect. Ask yourself how long the valve takes to respond and how much pressure is required to open it. You should also consider the normally open vs normally closed valves because each serves a different purpose.
An appropriate choice can improve the reliability of the valve. What determines the choice is whether the valve is usually more closed or open during the normal system operation.
Valves are made from different materials with different qualities like strength and chemical resistance. So you need to know the strength and chemical compatibility of your valve of choice. A valve must not react with the liquids or gases flowing through it.
If you are dealing with corrosive or harsh chemicals then plastic valves can be the best option.
Valves vary in types and sizes and this is what determines the type of use they can be put into. Valves can be used to adjust fluid/gas flow, mix flow, divert flow, or shut off flow. They can also be used for backflow prevention and for releasing pressure. The function of a valve determines which valve type to choose.
The most common types of valves include shutoff valves, pinch valves, regulators, relief valves, stopcocks, toggle valves, metering valves, needle valves, ball valves, and check valves. To make the right choice, you need to match the valve&#;s type and size to its expected function in the system.
A valve is expected to work under different conditions of temperature and pressure. A good valve should continue to perform well under the lowest and the highest temperatures and pressures of the system.
Metal valves are better than plastic valves in highly pressurized systems especially if the operating temperatures are also high. This is because metals are stronger than plastics.
Tips for selecting the right valve can&#;t be complete without considering maintenance. Valves do wear out with time, so you need to factor in maintenance cost in your choice for a valve. This is important for both application stability and valve reliability. Working with a faulty valve is very dangerous as it may lead to fluid or gas leakages.
You should also consider valve connection type when choosing because this affects the speed and ease of replacement or repair. Each connection type (Luer, push-in, barbed, threaded, etc) has its advantages and disadvantages.
To make your valve choice easier and faster, you need to know where to start. Having all the information beforehand will help to make your choice more certain.
You need to understand the issues like chemical compatibility and operating conditions of a valve, and applications requirements of the system from the very start before you make a choice. That wraps up the tips for selecting the right valve.
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