Valve Types and Application
Solenoid Valve:
Electrically Operated
On/Off valve
Advantages:
Remotely controlled
Gate Valves
Best Suited Control: Quick Opening
Recommended Uses:
1. Fully open/closed, non-throttling
2. Infrequent operation
3. Minimal fluid trapping in line
Applications: Oil, gas, air, slurries, heavy liquids, steam, noncondensing gases, and corrosive
liquids
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. High capacity 1. Poor control
2. Tight shutoff 2. Cavitate at low pressure drops
3. Low cost 3. Cannot be used for throttling
4. Little resistance to flow
Globe Valves
Best Suited Control: Linear and Equal percentage
Recommended Uses:
1. Throttling service/flow regulation
2. Frequent operation
Applications: Liquids, vapors, gases, corrosive substances,
slurries
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Efficient throttling 1. High pressure drop
2. Accurate flow control 2. More expensive than other valves
3. Available in multiple ports
Ball Valves
Best Suited Control: Quick opening, linear
Recommended Uses:
1. Fully open/closed, limited-throttling
2. Higher temperature fluids
Applications: Most liquids, high temperatures,
slurries
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Low cost 1. Poor throttling characteristics
2. High capacity 2. Prone to cavitation
3. Low leakage and maint.
4. Tight sealing with low torque
Butterfly Valves
Best Suited Control: Linear, Equal percentage
Recommended Uses:
1. Fully open/closed or throttling services
2. Frequent operation
3. Minimal fluid trapping in line
Applications: Liquids, gases, slurries, liquids with suspended
solids
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Low cost and maint. 1. High torque required for control
2. High capacity 2. Prone to cavitation at lower flows
3. Good flow control
4. Low pressure drop
Other Valves
Another type of valve commonly used in conjunction with other valves is called a check
valve. Check valves are designed to restrict the flow to one direction. If the flow reverses
direction, the check valve closes. Relief valves are used to regulate the operating pressure of
incompressible flow. Safety valves are used to release excess pressure in gases or
compressible fluids.
References:
Piston Operated Valve:
Applications:
Industrial laundry (steam circuit)
Special machinery
Special machinery with steam circuit
Food processing
Chemical product processing
Autoclaves and industrial boilers
Tyre press or rubber parts applications (vulcanisation)
Iron and steel industry
Iris Valve:
Applications:
Gravity Flow