VALVES

A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids,
fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways.
Valves are technically valves fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category. In an open
valve, fluid flows in a direction from higher pressure to lower pressure. Valves may be operated
manually, either by a handle, lever, pedal or wheel. Valves may also be automatic, driven by
changes in pressure, temperature, or flow. These changes may act upon a diaphragm or
a piston which in turn activates the valve. The main parts of the most usual type of valve are the
body and the bonnet. These two parts form the casing that holds the fluid going through the
valve.

VALVE TYPES AND CONFIGURATIONS

Valves are products that are rarely noticed, yet they play a vital role in our daily life. Each
time you turn on a water faucet or a gas range, or use your water heater, you operate a valve.
Valves help preserve our quality of life by controlling flow of all types. They are essential to our
homes and to virtually all manufacturing processes, as well as every industrial plant and system.
There are a large variety of valves and valve configurations for a wide variety of purposes and
conditions: different uses (on/off, control), different fluids (liquid or gas combustible, toxic or
corrosive), different materials (metal or nonmetal) and different pressure and temperature
conditions (low, medium or high pressure applications and low, room or high temperature
applications).
Gate Valves: Gate valves are general service valves that can be made in a broad spectrum of
sizes using a variety of different materials. They can meet the demands of a wide range of
pressure and temperature conditions.

Globe Valves: Globe valves are named for their appearance. Compared to gate valves, globe
valves are designed to open and close more quickly. Their flow characteristics are changed by
configuring their discs.

Check Valves: Check valves are designed to prevent backflow by constantly keeping fluid
flowing in a single direction

Ball Valves: Because of their excellent operating characteristics, ball valves are used for the
broadest spectrum of applications and are available in a wide range of sizes and materials.

Butterfly Valves: Compact and with a simple construction, butterfly valves facilitate easy pipe
arrangement.

Strainers: Strainers use a screen to filter pipeline debris such as scale, rust and other foreign
matter suspended in flowing liquids or gases.

Safety Valve: A safety valve is a valve which has the function of increasing the safety of a
thermal-hydraulics plant. An example of safety valve could be a pressure safety valve (PSV), i.e.
a pressure relief valve (PRV) which automatically releases a substance from a boiler, pressure
vessel, or other system, when the pressure or temperature exceeds preset limits. Also pilotoperated relief valves could have the function of safety valves.

Control

valves:

Control

valves are valves used

to

control

conditions

such

as flow, pressure, temperature, and liquid level by fully or partially opening or closing in
response to signals received from controllers that compare a "setpoint" to a "process variable"
whose value is provided by sensors that monitor changes in such conditions. The opening or
closing of control valves is usually done automatically by electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic
actuators. Positioners are used to control the opening or closing of the actuator based on electric,
or pneumatic signals.

METHOD OF OPERATION
Valves can be operated manually or automatically (with an actuator). There are three types of
manual operation.
1. Handle Type
A handle is ordinarily used for manual operation of gate and globe valves.

2. Lever Handle Type

A lever handle is ordinarily used for manual operation of ball valves.

3. Gear operated Type

A gear-operated valve is ordinarily used for manual operation of butterfly and ball valves.
There are two additional options: the hammer blow and chain wheel types.

There are two types of automatic operation, according to the driving source of the actuator.
1. Electric actuator
The actuator is driven by electric power (AC or DC).

2. Pneumatic actuator
The actuator is driven by compressed air.

VALVE MATERIALS
Brass: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Because of its good wear resistance, corrosion
resistance and machinability, brass is ideal for complex castings. It is also suitable for valves
used in low/medium pressure service. It has excellent forgeability and machinability and is more
economical.
Cast iron lining: Nylon 11 and epoxy resin are powder coated on the inner and outer surfaces of
an iron valve, creating a lining that is useful for preventing red, rusty water. It is also suitable for
use in drinking water supply lines.
Cast iron: This is mainly used for comparatively low pressure and low temperature applications.
Cast steel: Because of its wide range of working temperatures and pressures, cast steel is
commonly used for pipelines in oil fields, refineries and petrochemical plants.
Ductile cast iron: This is commonly used in steam, water, gas and oil pipeline systems because
of its wide range of working temperatures and pressures. It offers high performance for its cost.

Stainless steel: Because of its excellent corrosion resistance and durability, this material is
commonly used in a wide spectrum of applications, ranging from the petrochemical industry to
general plant systems.
Special alloy steel: This metal has the highest resistance to corrosion and pitting corrosion.

VALVE CONNECTIONS
A valve cannot operate if it is not connected to a pipe to from a pipeline system. Valve
and pipe connections are therefore of great importance. The connection work must be carried out
carefully so as not to cause a leak or damage after connecting the valve. Valves may sometimes
be classified according to the configuration of the end connection. There are basically two types
of connections.
1. Temporary connection
2. Permanent connection

Temporary connections are threaded connection, flange Connection. Welded connection is the
permanent connection.

Flanged Connection:
End connections are in the shape of a flange and the two flanges are connected using
bolts and nuts. Flanged connections are the most common method of connecting valves,
regardless of the pressure level (from low to high pressure levels) and valve size (from small to
large valves).

Threaded Connection:
The valve is connected to the pipe using pipe threads. This connection type is used
primarily for relatively small valves, not exceeding 2 inches with a pressure level of 1 MPa or
lower. Unlike other connection methods, the threaded type does not require small parts (bolts and
nuts, etc.), making it economical. However, this type of connection is difficult to repair. There
are two types of threading: internal and external threads, and tapered and parallel threads. Most
valves employ the tapered thread type.

Welded Connection:
The valve is welded directly to the pipe. This connection is usually used where perfect
shutoff of leakage is crucial, for example in high-temperature and high-pressure pipeline
systems. There are two types of weld: socket weld and butt-weld.

1) Socket weld: The welded end of the valve is formed in the shape of a socket, into which the
pipe is inserted and then welded to the valve. This connection is used primarily for small valves,
not exceeding 2 inches.
2) Butt weld: The valve and pipe ends are abutted to each other and then welded to form the
connection. The two butt edges are beveled for jointing. This connection method can be used for
valves of any size.