Industrial valve selection criteria

It is very important to master the basic knowledge of industrial performance requirements related to valves. It will make it easier for you to choose valves. It is recommended to keep the following five points in mind before starting to select a valve:

1. Valve size and type

It should be pointed out that the valves in industrial equipment installations have to perform multiple functions: including cutting off flow, transferring flow, mixing flow, releasing pressure, preventing backflow, and adjusting flow. For example, in a water supply pipeline, a shut-off valve is used to control the flow of water. For 16-inch pipelines, use full-line size butterfly valves. The maximum speed through the valve is usually limited to 12 feet per second and should not exceed 20 feet per second.

2. Manufacturing materials

Before making valve selection, pay attention to the chemical compatibility requirements of industrial equipment. The material used to make the valve should be compatible with the gas and other media flowing through it. For example, valves made of copper alloys are a popular choice for oil and gas production. Plastic valves are generally better resistant to corrosion and chemical corrosion than metal valves.In a survey of valve users, it was found that 80% of users chose corrosion-resistant materials, such as stainless steel (27.2%), brass or bronze (24.1%) or plastic (18.2%).

3. Performance requirements

In industries that produce high temperatures and pressures, metal alloys are usually recommended. Metal valves are also most suitable for pressurized gas.

4. Check valve has special requirements

The check valve works as expected most of the time. However, it is still recommended to check its response time and the opening pressure required to open the valve.Certain types of check valves require positive downstream pressure to open. These are usually called closed check valves. The second type requires positive back pressure when closed, and is called open check valves. Proper selection between the two according to industrial requirements can improve the reliability of the check valve.

5. Maintenance

Frequent maintenance must be carried out on valves operating in industrial equipment. This is very important for valve reliability and application stability.For example, ball valves can prevent clogging. But at the same time, they are not suitable for regulating flow. Using a ball valve to control flow can cause leakage or premature failure.The type of valve connection affects the function of the system and process. Each connection type has its own advantages and disadvantages.