Industrial Valves
There is no denying the importance of valves in industrial operations. With countless applications and a wide range of materials passing through them, valves are manufactured in many different styles to meet specific functional needs. Some of the most common types include ball valves, gate valves, check valves, butterfly valves, globe valves, plug valves, and safety & relief valves. Below is an overview of these major valve types and their typical applications.
Ball Valves
Ball valves are known for fast on/off operation, high-capacity handling, and excellent sealing performance. They are widely used in oil and gas industries, petrochemical plants, power plants, pharmaceuticals, HVAC systems, plumbing, and many other industries.
Gate Valves
Gate valves are designed primarily for on/off service while providing minimal pressure drop. They are commonly used in oil and gas, petrochemical facilities, power plants, pharmaceuticals, HVAC systems, plumbing, and other similar applications.
Globe Valves
Globe valves are ideal for flow regulation, throttling, and precise control. They are suitable for oil and gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power plants, HVAC systems, plumbing, and more.
Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valves are lightweight, cost-effective, and often used for on/off service in large diameters. They are utilized in oil and gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power plants, HVAC systems, plumbing, and more.
Check Valves
Check valves prevent backflow and protect upstream equipment such as pumps and compressors. They are utilized in oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, HVAC systems, plumbing, and other such applications.
Plug Valves
Plug valves are robust quarter-turn valves that are simple to operate and are used where fast shutoff, and reliable sealing is required. They are suitable for oil and gas, petrochemicals, power plants, pharmaceuticals, and applications that involve corrosive or abrasive fluids.
Safety & Relief Valves
Safety and relief valves automatically release pressure when they exceed a preset limit. They are critical for system safety and protection in industries such as oil and gas, petrochemicals, and power plants.
Needle Valves
Needle valves are manually operated valves designed for precise regulation of fluid or gas flow. They are essential in instrumentation, calibration, and high-pressure systems requiring accurate manual control.
Valve Operation Types
Valves can also be categorized based on how they are operated:
Control Valves
Control valves automatically regulate fluid flow. They consist of a valve body, actuator, trim, positioner, and accessories. Actuators may be pneumatic, electric, or hydraulic. Control valves are used in oil and gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power plants, HVAC systems, plumbing, and many other industries.
Solenoid Valves
Solenoid valves are electrically operated automated flow control valves that are fast, and reliable. They manage the flow of liquids, gases, steam, or air in industrial systems. When electrical current energizes the solenoid coil, it creates a magnetic field that moves the plunger, opening or closing the valve. Their fast response, compact design, and high reliability make them essential in automation, process control, and safety systems across multiple industries.
MOVs (Motor-Operated Valves)
Motor-operated valves are essential components that are used in pipelines and processing plants where remote operation, automation, and reliable shutoffs are required. MOV provides precise control of fluids such as oil, gas, steam, water, and other fluids. MOVs are indispensable in modern industrial automation.
Valve cv Calculation
The flow coefficient (cv) is a critical parameter used to select and size valves. It measures the valve’s ability to pass fluid flow and to determine the correct valve for a specific application. cv is calculated using the following formula:
Legend:
- Q = Flow rate
- sq = Specific gravity of the fluid
- ΔP= Pressure drop across the valve
Standards
ASME: B16.34, B16.5, B16.10, B31.3, B31.1, B31.4, B31.8, B16.11
API: 600, 602, 603, 594, 598, 607/6FA, 609, 6D, 6A
Other: MSS, BS, AWWA, ASTM D1784, ASTM D2467, ASTM D4101, ASTM F1970, ISO 9303, and others.
About American Industrial Supply
American Industrial Supply has been serving the power and construction industries since 1978, and we share our extensive experience with industrial valves with our customers on a daily basis. American also provides in-depth technical knowledge on all major valve types and their applications. We pride ourselves in assisting our customers in selecting the most efficient and cost-effective valve solutions for all of their projects and everyday maintenance in a quick & reliable manner.
