LESSON

5
LECTURE
DIAPHRAGM VALVES, PINCH VALVES
AND INSTRUMENT VALVES
SUB-OBJECTIVE
At the end of thi !eon, the t"#inee $i!! %e #%!e to de&ont"#te #n
'nde"t#ndin( of Di#)h"#(& *#!*e, Pin+h *#!*e #nd Int"'&ent *#!*e,
-,. DIAPHRAGM VALVES
Most valves depend on a controlled geometry and rigid materials for
closure. The diaphragm valve operates on an entirely different basis: A
highly flexible and extensible Elastomer sheet forced down into a rigid
edge, the seat, causes closure. !f the valve body, including the seating
area, is rigid plastic or a metal with corrosion"resistant Elastomer lining,
then the diaphragm valve has an important potential advantage " high
resistance to corrosive li#uids. This is its chief application, naturally, in
water"treatment wor$ and for li#uids that might be contaminated by metal
contact.
The cushioning effect of the Elastomer diaphragm also tends to protect it
as it seals tightly on large and small foreign solids in the stream. %lurries
and waste water are therefore other applications.
The body configuration of &ig. '"( causes friction loss and disturbs flow
paths more than the straight"through type of &ig. '"). This can be a factor
in slurry and suspended"solids service. *n the other hand, the straight"
through type is not recommended for vacuum lines.
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/i(, 5--, /i(, 5-0,
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/i(, 5-1, /i(, 5-2,
0,. VALVE DESIGN
Two basic body designs are used for diaphragm valves:
(. The straight " through has no obstructions where the diaphragm
seats. &ig. '"5.
). The weir has a raised surface where the diaphragm seats on the
valve body &ig. '"6.
The wea$ness of the diaphragm valve is in its Elastomer diaphragm, which
can crac$ from repeated flexing or be torn by sharp"edged foreign bodies in
the fluid. %pecial design attention goes to the diaphragm itself and to the
actuator head that forces the diaphragm into closure.
The contact between head and diaphragm must be uniform to prevent
locali7ed damage to the diaphragm. This head, also called compressor,
may have radial flanges that pass through cutouts between supporting
prongs in a finger plate.
8rea$age of the diaphragm, whether from flexing, cutting or impact of the
fluid and particle load as the li#uid ma$es the sharp turn over the center
weir, will admit fluid to the bonnet space, corroding the actuating elements.
A vent plug in the bonnet allows chec$ for the presence of lea$age.
0eplacement of a defective diaphragm is not difficult, but often corrosion in
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the bonnet will re#uire more extensive repairs. %tem sealing by pac$ing or
*"rings is also advisable to prevent escape of corrosive agents to the
outside.
*ne drawbac$ of the weir"type diaphragm valve is inability to drain a
hori7ontal line through it directly. Turning the valve until the stem is about
)9 deg. Above the hori7ontal greatly improves draining ability. The straight"
through"flow design &ig. '"6, however, can drain even when the stem is
straight up.
The wide choice of metals and Elastomer for bodies and of Elastomer for
diaphragms allows the diaphragm valve to meet all power plants chemical
needs. Temperature limits range from about (:9 & for natural rubber and
8una - to as high as 5'9 & for weir"type T&E diaphragms with Elastomer
bac$ing and 699 & for all T&E diaphragms.
&or abrasive service, the diaphragm can be gum rubber or ethylene
propylene. The body lining need not be as flexible as the diaphragm.
Materials li$e ethylene tetrafluoroethylene ;ET&E<, polypropylene, polyvinyl
chloride, and polyvinylidene chloride are choices.
Although most diaphragm valve designs are not intended for precision
throttling, they can maintain good throttling #ualities, and some types have
relatively low pressure"deep features.
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/i(, 5-5,
1,. VARIATIONS O/ THE DIAPHRAGM VALVE
Two speciali7ed variations of the diaphragm valve are good for throttling
characteristic.
(. The 3inch 2alve is e#uipped with a flexible tube that goes through
the valve body and forms flange gas$ets between the valve and the
connecting pipe &ig. '"=. 1ue to the smooth straight flow path
through a pinch valve, there is minimum pressure drop across the
valve. +losure occur through s#uee7ing together of Elastomer walls
over a wide area, rather than against a narrow metal ridge. The
ability of the pinch valve to handle abrasive and slurries has given it
wide application in such power plants services as such disposal, flue"
gas desulfuri7ation, waste water, water treatment and, in future, fuel"
slurry handling.
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/i(, 5-3, Pin+h V#!*e C't#$#4, 5-5, Boot V#!*e,
The heat of the simplest form of pinch valve is a flanged Elastomer
tube &ig. '"= mounted in a split flanged casting connected to a
compressed"air line. The tube is reinforced by fabric plies which are
carried outward over the flanges.
!n the open state, the valve, bolted between pipe flanges, transmits
fluids >ust as if it were part of the piping. Admission of compressed
air to the valve body pinches the tube into an oval shape at the
center and finally shuts off flow at the center and finally shuts off flow
completely. All pinch valves close over a long contact area, so that
the seating surfaces can envelop even large ob>ects without lea$ing
or being cut.
). The 8oot 2alve : !t?s similar to the 3inch 2alve &ig. '"@, but there are
two compressors that flex the boot to open and close, and also
provide throttling action. The double compressor is used with each
side of the boot flexing to close the valve, wear on each side
reduced"thus giving added life to the valve.
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2,. INSTRUMENT VALVES
All of the valve types covered in the previous pages can be specially
designed in small or miniature form and adapted not only to the special
needs of instrument and control systems but also to demanding services of
blowdown, piloting, and lea$ off.
8ar"stoc$ bodies are common and, in globe types, a ball swiveling in the
stem end &ig. '": will give the necessary ratability for seating without
damage. &or high pressure test and sampling, the disc can become a
slender rod, closing a narrow orifice &ig. '"A.
.ocation of stem pac$ing and threads is often an important factor in
evaluating instrument valves. %tem threads inside the pac$ing can provide
good support for the disc but are exposed to line fluid more than if they are
outside.
3anel mounting, fre#uently necessary for instrument valves, calls for
threading on the bonnet exterior. An alternative attachment method is by
bolts going through mounting holes in the valve body &ig. '"A.
/i(, 5-6, /i(, 5-7,
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/i(, 5--., /i(, 5---,
The low life re#uired for small instrument valves is easily obtained from
diaphragm air actuators mounted compactly on the valve body &ig. '"(9.
%oft seats are common in instrument valves, because temperatures are
often low but lea$ tightness is important.
The special needs of instrumentation call for fre#uent close grouping of
isolation, shutoff, and testing valves for such devices as meters. An
alternative to connection of valves by piping is manifold bloc$s with internal
passages and fixed locations for instrument valves. An elementary
example of this is the two"valve unit of fig. '"((.
8ecause of their narrow passages and orifices, along with close tolerances
and comparatively heavy thrusts on small seating surfaces, instrument
valves re#uire more protection by filters and strainers from dirt, metal chips,
and general debris in connected piping.
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