Valves isolate, switch and control fluids in piping systems. Choosing which one you’ll need for yours depends on a variety of factors, but before jumping in it can be good to know the basics. This week, we’ll discuss some of your run-of-the-mill valve types and what their advantages and disadvantages are.

Gate valves
Designed to function fully open or fully closed, Gate Valves operate slowly and are great at preventing fluid hammer –which can be extremely detrimental to piping systems. They’re also excellent at maintaining pressure and when in the closed position, can provide an excellent seal under pressure. That being said, in lower pressure environments, it’s not unheard of for there to be light seepage, so be aware.

Ball valves
Ball valves are usually used for throttling clear water – as their primary use is to handle water that contains particles. They both operate fully open or fully closed, which gives them the advantage of dealing with low-pressure drops simply and trouble free. More recently, they’ve been used in combination with Teflon seals and as a result have become one of the most popular applications on the market today.

Globe Valves
Globe valves have significant advantages and disadvantages. Like Gate Valves, they close slowly – so the likelihood of experiencing fluid hammer is low. As a result, you can throttle the flow and they won’t leak under low pressure when they’re shut off. On the other hand, the disadvantage is that their ‘Z’ pattern can restrict flow more than your standard gate, ball or butterfly valves and can struggle slightly more dealing with high degrees of volume in certain situations.

Plug valves
Like your standard-issue gate valve, plug valves offer seamless, unobstructed flow and only require a 90-degree turn to open them. Not only do they require little headroom, but also experience next nothing in terms of steam corrosion thanks to their screw threads. Nearly every plug valve manufactured in today’s market are furnished with elastomer-coated plugs that seal off drip-tight. They’re most commonly used in places like wastewater plants where much larger sized valves are needed.

Butterfly valves
Much like Ball Valves, Butterfly Valves operate with only a ¼ turn and are generally used for large-flow gasses or liquids. That being said, be wary of using them for throttling for extended periods of time. Their compact designs make them incredibly efficient and versatile valves when compared to flanged gate and ball valves.

For more information, contact Diffley-Wright Corporation; (800) 282-4886