Pipes and valves play important roles in various industries. Their applications exceed beyond the usual mechanical components.
Although we use them in different capacities, the valves’ primary purpose is to control the liquid or gas flowing through it. To do so, they have a handle to regulate the media by closing and opening or partially opening the valve gate. Before we can look at the application, let’s find out more about valve types.
Some of the types of valves are as follows:
Globe Valves:
They are one of the valves which we use abundantly. They use linear motion to close or open the valves. They are mostly in use for control purpose. Therefore, they do not leak as much as the other valves do. It is because it has a baffle that divides inside the pipe.
Gate Valves:
The gate valves are there for one purpose, that is to stop or start the flow of liquid. They are the most common type of valves. We can find them in our homes and schools and parks. Since they are multipurpose, they come in all size and materials.
A gate valve consists of steel, cast iron, stainless steel, and various other alloys. The valves mechanism is to lift and close the gate with the help of a round knob. Since they are used primarily for water flow, so the diameter of the bore can vary according to the need.
Butterfly Valves:
A butterfly valve can regulate the flow to a certain degree. The handle rotates at 90 degrees to allow the movement of liquid. It has an option to operate manually or electronically. We can use these valves in applications like fire cylinder, gas supply, water supply, and in fuel handles in a petrol station.
Ball Valves:
The procedure of opening influences their name. The valve contains a small ball to control flow from one end to another. Since they have a better closing mechanism, they are considered ideal for gases. The sealing factor helps in preventing any leakage. Moreover, they can support a higher degree of pressure and temperature. They have a simple mechanism so we can repair them with ease.
Check Valves:
A check valve is also sometimes known as a non-return valve. The reason behind this is that it only allows the liquid to flow in one direction. It helps in preventing backflow, which is needed to stop the water from wasting or messing some machine.
Due to this feature does not require any monitoring. The pressure of the flow in either direction will allow or stop the flow of a liquid like water. They are mostly in use in pipes connecting to a pump or compressor.
Now that we understand the different types of valves, now we will look at its applications:
Oil and Gas:
The gas and oil industry is the principal user of valves. Everything from the drilling to refining, transportation to storage, is done via pipes. We have to factor in the price of production, keeping the valves in mind. The further the sources from each other; the more will be the use of pipes. It is why, while designing the extraction and refining process, we keep the equipment nearby.
The vales need to be economical as well as sturdy. They have to support a tremendous amount of pressure. Thus the device must perform better, be long-lasting, and free from corrosion. In oil drilling and refining, the temperature can exceed 815 °C with high pressure. These conditions continue to affect the pipeline; it seems logical to use the service of a gate valve manufacturer with a good record.
Food Industry:
The industry where the parts are always under observation is the food and beverage factory. The main challenge is to keep the flow of the product running. The food authorities tend to regulate their production. They make sure that the pipes are smooth enough that no food particle gets left behind. It ensures that the food elements.
There are two types of pipelines; one being those that supply drinks and food directly, while the second one handles mainly water. It means that the pipes used in the food industry are soft and malleable. Since there is little concern for pressure so that the material can be somewhat cheap.
The valve needs to be such that it can withstand corrosion. Other than that it may be weak in tensile strength.
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Chemical Industry:
The most destructive action caused to a valve is by the chemicals. They vary in their ph number from being strong acid to a strong base. The valves that they use are made keeping in mind the ability to clean it and then correctly sterilize them. The production company makes ready-made drugs out of raw materials. It involves heating and mixing of different chemicals.
The end products or their byproducts are at times toxic. The valve, therefore, needs to have a lot of tolerance to corrosion and abrasive power of a chemical. Furthermore, they need to be leakproof as any spillage can be potentially fatal to the person coming in contact with them.
Ships and Ports:
A series of pipes and joints run ships. The flow of water, steam, and fuel needs to be uninterrupted and perfect. Otherwise, the boat cannot sail smoothly. Each craft has a series of pipelines running across the length of it. The engine room in a vessel is filling with pipes and valves. The bigger the boat is, the more vast will be its pipe network.
The valves should be able to accommodate different operations like waste and fuel management. At times of emergency, it can also help in firefighting since the ships are far in the ocean and should have the capability to keep things running until they reach a seaport. The seawater is highly corrosive so the pipes should be able to withstand such onslaught at sea.
Conclusion:
The designers of the valve have been tweaking the design by taking the old setup and studying them. The type of actuator you will use will depend upon the type of machine you are using and where do you plan on using it. It is therefore essential that you chose the valve with care and consult a professional.
Neha Nidhi
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