Introduction:

Different Valve Types, Applications & Suitability

There are a large variety of valves and valve configurations to suit all services and
conditions; different uses (on/off, control), different fluids (liquid, gas etc; combustible, toxic,
corrosive etc) different materials and different pressure and temperature conditions. Valves
are for starting or stopping flow, regulating or throttling flow, preventing back flow or
relieving and regulating pressure in fluid or gaseous handling applications. Common valve
types include: Ball, Butterfly, Check, Diaphragm, Gate, Globe, Knife Gate, Parallel Slide,
Pinch, Piston, Plug, Sluice, etc.

The following types of valves are used in a variety of applications these descriptions may
provide a basic guideline in the selection of valves.

BALL VALVES

A ball valve is a device with a spherical closure unit that provides on/off control of
flow. The sphere has a port, also known as a bore, through the center. When the valve is
positioned such that the bore is aligned in the same direction as the pipeline, it is in open
position and fluid can flow through it. Because of their excellent operating characteristics,
ball valves are used for the broadest spectrum of isolation applications and are available in a
wide range of sizes and materials and are available in full flow and full through
conduit. Advantages - quick acting, straight through flow in either direction, low pressure
drop, bubble tight shut off & operating torque, easily actuated. Disadvantages - temperature
limitations on seating material, long “relative” face to face dimension.

BUTTERFLY VALVES

The butterfly valve derives its name from the wing-like action of the disc which
operates at right angles to the flow. Its main advantage is a seating surface which is not
critical. It is designed for flow isolation. The disc impinges against a resilient liner to provide
bubble tightness with low operating torque. Compact and with a simple construction,
butterfly valves facilitate easy pipe arrangement. Due to disc, they have slightly reduced flow
characteristics. Advantages - quick acting, good regulating characteristics, compact & light,
low pressure isolation. Butterfly valves are simple, reliable and range in size from 40mm to
1000mm and beyond. They can be controlled by a notched lever, hand wheel as well as by
pneumatic or electric actuator. A shaft turns a disc 90º within a pipe. The disc angle within
the pipe can provide a restriction varying from drip-tight through to almost full flow (except
very small sizes).

CHECK VALVES

Sometimes referred to as a non-return valve, the check valve prevents back-flow in

the piping by constantly keeping fluid flowing in one direction. Check valves operate
automatically. Some piston/disc check valves are spring loaded for fast operation, (minimum
cracking pressure should be specified). Vertical downwards flow requires a spring loaded
check valve.

Swing Check Valves: - Swing & Wafer checks cease reverse flow with a flap that swings onto
a seat. Use swing checks only for forward flow that is horizontal or vertical upward.

Piston Check Valves: - Piston & Spring checks cease reverse flow with a spring loaded
plunger.

Ball Check Valves:- Ball checks have a ball that slides into a hole as forward flow slows.
Consider a ball check for semi-solids such as pulp or effluent.

Tilting Disc Check Valves: - Tilting Disc check valves are similar to Swing check valves but
in most installations, slamming is minimised upon reversal of flow so noise and vibration are
reduced.

GLOBE VALVES
Globe/Stop Valves: - The flow path through globe valves follows a changing course, thereby
causing increased resistance to flow and considerable pressure drop. Because of the seating
arrangements, globe valves are the most suitable for throttling flow, however avoid extremely
close throttling when the repeatable pressure drop exceeds 20%. Close throttling creates
excess noise, vibration and possible damage to valves and piping. The valve is named after is
globular body. Compared to gate valves, globe valves are designed to open and close more
quickly. Their flow characteristics can be changed by re-configuring their discs. Advantages -
best shut off (not drip tight above 50NB) & regulating. Disadvantages - high pressure drop
(head loss), unidirectional.

Stop Check Valves (SDNR): - Stop check valves are essentially the same as Globe valves,
except there is no mechanical connection between the stem and the disc. They provide a
combination Stop valve and a Piston check valve in one valve. However, they are not
designed for throttling. They are used in steam boiler outlet piping when two or more boilers
are connected to a common header. Valves must be installed with pressure under the disc,
and when the stem is raised, only boiler pressure can raise the disc whenever boiler pressure
exceeds header pressure. They prevent backflow from the header to boiler.

GATE VALVES

Wedge Gate Valves: - Commonly used in industrial piping for stop or isolating – to turn on
and shut off the flow as opposed to regulating flow. Gate valves are named from the gate-like
disc which operates at a right angle to the path of the flow. Gate valves are general service
valves that can be made in a broad spectrum of sizes using a variety of different materials.
Wedge gate valves are metal seated but are also available with resilient seat insert if drip tight
shut off is required. They can meet the demands of a wide range of pressure and temperature
conditions and is available in full port. Advantages - low pressure drop, straight through flow
either direction. Disadvantages - slow acting, bulky. Not drip tight shut off (over 150NB). Do
not partially open as this will cause damage to seat/disc.

Knife Gate Valves: - Useful for many applications in larger sized pipework (50mm up).
Unlike traditional gate valves, they are able to throttle (at lower pressures) depending on line
media and degree of opening. Metal seated knife gate valves are not leak tight shut off. Some
knife gate valves have a resilient seat in order to ensure they close drip-tight. Available in v-
port, o-port and lined they are ideally suited for the control of effluent, slurries, waste
products, semi solids, pulp, bulk powders. Most knife gate valves are designed for single flow
direction.
Parallel Slide Gate Valves: - Popular in steam applications as the energised disc design
handles thermal expansion without sticking like wedge gate valves. Another advantage is
lower torque then wedge gate valves especially in venturi (Ferranti) reduced bore
configuration. Parallel slide valves consist of two parallel gates that are energised against the
seat at all times by springs or a wedging spreader bar between the two gates. No mechanical
stress is exerted between the discs, and the valve is not subjected to dangerous strains in
opening and closing. This design of valve maintains fluid tightness without the aid of
wedging action. These valves are used for saturated and super heated steam.

Pipeline Slab Gate Valves: - Available in parallel solid slab and expanding 2 piece wedging
slab. Both styles protect the seat area from the flow in all operating positions. These valves
have a full through conduit configuration with a hole in the slab. Slab style gate valves have
seats that are spring energised. The expanding slab features two opposed sliding v-shape
segments that maintain pressure against the seats. These valves are for API6D pipeline
applications but are also used for API6A wellhead valves. All these valves are made in metal
to metal and soft seat configuration.

PLUG VALVES

Plug valves are valves with cylindrical or conically-tapered “plugs” which can be rotated
inside the valve body to control flow through the valve. The plugs in plug valves have one or
more hollow passageways going sideways through the plug, so that fluid can flow through
the plug when the valve is open. Plug valves are simple and often economical.
Proper valve selection matches a valve to the control and hydronic system physical
requirements. First consider the application requirements and then consider the valve
characteristics necessary to meet those requirements.

Valve type selection should take account of:

1. Required function and application.

2. Service conditions.

3. Fluid type and condition.

4. Fluid characteristics.

5. Frequency of operation.

6. Isolation requirements.

7. Maintenance requirements.
8. Environmental considerations.

9. Past experience in comparable conditions.

10. Weight and size.

11. Cost.

1. Required function and application

Butterfly Valve

Butterfly valves control the flow of hot, chilled, or condenser water in two-position or
proportional applications. Butterfly valves are available in two-way or three-way
configurations. Tight shut off may be achieved by proper selection of actuator force and body
lining. The three-way valve can be used in mixing or diverting applications with the flow in
any direction. The three-way valve consists of two butterfly valves that mount on a flanged
cast iron tee and are linked to an actuator which opens one valve as it closes the other.
Minimum combined capacity of both valves occurs at the half-open position. When butterfly
valves are used for proportional control, they must be applied using conservative pressure
drop criteria. If the pressure drop approaches the critical pressure drop, unbalanced forces on
the disc can cause oscillations, poor control, and/or damage to the linkage and actuator, even
though the critical flow point is not reached. Modulating control is usually limited to arrange
of 15 to 65 degrees of disk rotation. Butterfly valves are usually found in larger pipe sizes.
For example, two butterfly valves could be piped in a mixing application to control the
temperature of the water going back to the condenser. The valves proportion the amount of
tower water and condenser water return that is flowing in the condenser water supply line.

2. Service conditions.

A fluid’s characteristics may fit one or more categories of service.

Clean service

Clean service is a term used to identify fluids free from solids or contaminants.

Clean fluids include instrument air, nitrogen and other manufactured gases, potable and
demineralised water, steam, lube oil, diesel oil, methanol, and most dosing and injection
chemicals. Valves for fluids such as oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and sometimes treated water
or lube oil require special attention to cleanliness of the valve. Valves for potable water must
meet local regulations.

Process fluids may be defined as clean depending on which part of the process is being
considered e.g. dry hydrocarbon gas downstream of scrubbers and dryers.

•Clean services are generally less damaging to valves resulting in long term performance and
reliability. Selection from a wide range of valve types is possible for most applications
allowing greater freedom of choice.

If the fluid service is basically clean, attention should be given to protecting valves during
construction and during flushing operations which are unlikely to be clean. This may require
the temporary replacement of valves by spool pieces. Alternatively select a valve type that is
suitable for dirty service.

Dirty service

Dirty service is a general term used to identify fluids with suspended solids that may
seriously impair the performance of valves unless the correct type is selected. This type of
service is often of major significance since many valves are very sensitive to the presence of
solids. Dirty service may be further classified as generally abrasive or sandy.

Generally abrasive service

Generally abrasive service is a term used to identify the presence of abrasive

particulate in piping systems including pipe rust, scale, welding slag, sand, catalyst fine sand
grit. These materials can damage seating surfaces and clog working clearances in valves
resulting in excessive operating force, sticking, jamming, and through seat leakage. Such
damage may be caused by particulate for quite low concentrations and of a size as low as 10
microns. Abrasive conditions are commonly found during construction, flushing, and line
clearing operations. If abrasive conditions are likely to persist during normal operation, a
valve suitable for dirty services should be selected.

Sandy service

Sandy service is a term identifying severe abrasive and erosive conditions occurring
in oil and gas production in which formation sand is carried through from the well. Sand
particle sizes are typically 50 micron to 450 micron and relatively low concentrations can
result in wear and jamming of inappropriately selected valves. Severe erosion of valve trim
sand bodies may occur if pressure drop and velocity is high (e.g. in choke sand separator
level control valves). In the case of block valves, damage is usually as a result of abrasion
(wear of seat inserts, bearings, etc.) Soft seated ball valves shall not be used in this service.
Note that, in some cases, very fine sand can be carried right through the process to oil export
and that produced water systems almost always contain sand.

Fouling/scaling service
 Fouling or scaling services are general terms used to identify liquids or elements of
liquids that form a deposit on surfaces. Such deposits may vary widely in nature, with
varying hardness, strength of adhesion and rates of build up.

Hazardous service

The term‘hazardous service’can usually be assumed to include the following, any of which
may exist in combination with other services listed above. Specific classification of fluids for
the purposes of health and safety legislation requires specialist advice. This information is
often provided on the fluid data sheet.

Corrosive service

1. Corrosive service is a term generally used to identify fluids containing corrosive

constituents that, depending on concentration, pressure, and temperature, may cause
corrosion of metallic components. Corrosive fluids include sulphuric acid, acetic acid,
hydrofluoricacid(HFA), wet acid gas (wetCO2), wet sourgas (wetH2S), and chlorides (e.g.
seawater). Many chemicals are highly corrosive including concentrations of some corrosion
inhibitors.

2. Corrosion resistant materials or overlays for valve pressure containing components and
trim should be chosen to prevent the integrity or performance of the valve from being
impaired. Valves are usually manufactured to standard patterns so specifying a particular
corrosion allowance in carbon steel is often not an option. Most valves will have ceased to
function correctly long before the corrosion allowance commonly specified for piping
systems has been used up.

3.The judicious use of overlays (e.g.in the seat pockets and seal surfaces of trunnion mounted
ball valves and slab gate valves) is recommended and can be extremely economical and
effective even if the service conditions are not normally corrosive.

High temperature service.

This is a relative term with different definitions in different contexts. Temperatures

between 120°C and 200°C (248°Fand392°F)(High temperature in exploration and production
applications). Care should be taken in the selection of polymer and elastomer seals and seats
particularly towards the high temperature end of the range in which most grades are unusable
and where valve pressure ratings may be reduced. 200°C (392°F) is the effective limit of
PTFE.

Low temperature service

At temperatures between 0°C and –29°C (32°F and– 20°F) consideration should be
given to charpy impact testing ferritic, martensitic, and duplex alloys in order to demonstrate
adequate toughness at the minimum design temperature or below. At temperatures below–
29°C(–20°F) these materials should always be tested.

3. Fluid type and condition

 The characteristics and condition of the process fluid shall be carefully defined. The
characteristics and condition of the process fluid are often the most significant factors in
selecting the correct type of valve e.g. clean fluids generally permit a wide choice of valve
types, whereas for dirty or abrasive fluids the choice is restricted; hazardous(flammable,
toxic) and searching fluids require special consideration to be given to stem, body, and seat
seals.

4. Frequency of operation.

Selection of valves which are frequently operated should take into account the fact
that shut off capability is likely to deteriorate and the fitting of another valve (normally open)
in series may be necessary to ensure adequate isolation. Most isolation valves are not
operated frequently although some may be (valves on regenerative processes, diverter
service, etc.). If operation is in frequent there is likely to be an increase in the required
operating force with time.

5. Isolation requirements.

Very few valve types can maintain completely tight shut-off over a significant period
of operation and this number is reduced still further if the working fluid is gas or if it contains
abrasive particles. This should be taken into account in selection (e.g. some valve types offer
a double isolation in a single body) and in system design (multiple valves, provision of
adequately sized venting facilities, etc. The need for intervention in a“live”system determines
the seat leak tightness requirements for valves isolating equipment. Shut down valves are
rarely required to shut off tight and is often acceptable with a significant through seat leak
rate. Check valves rarely if ever shut off tight and should be assumed not to do so in process
design.

6. Maintenance requirements.

The location and available facilities etc .affects the possibility for valve maintenance
and therefore affects valve choice.

7. Environmental considerations.

The required degree of control of emissions to the environment is usually determined

by the nature (flammability, toxicity, searching tendency)of the process fluid or by the
sensitivity of the environment (marine, etc.). Valve stem seals are the most frequent source of
emissions. In general, valves having rotary, quarter turn operation are inherently less prone to
emissions than those with rising stems and the fewer flanged etc. joints a valve incorporates,
the better.

8. Past experience.

This should always be taken into account (good and bad) as it relates to comparable
service conditions. Sometimes, however, local expectations are conditioned by a lack of
knowledge of available alternatives.
9. Weight and size.

These factors should not be allowed to determine valve type if they do not represent a
constraint e.g. in new, on shore construction. In some applications, though, it is necessary to
try to minimize one or both.

10. Cost.

Whole life cost should be considered, not just the purchase price. Higher priced valve
options frequently turn out to be cheaper on this basis, particularly if unscheduled plant shut-
down can be avoided.

Bibliography:

Ricardo, B. (2011). Guidance on Valves Type Selection

Ballou, G. (2010). Handbook for Sound Engineers

Benson, B., & Whitaker, J. (2003, February). Standard Handbook of Audio Engineering.
McGraw-Hill Professionals.

Thompson, B. (2016, October 26). Different valve types, applications and suitability.
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