The demand for industrial valves and fittings in the UAE is anticipated to increase rapidly because of the increasing number of commercial construction projects, automation projects, and new business setups. Increased industrialization and expansion of existing facilities have also spurred the demand for trusted valves and fittings suppliers in the UAE to fulfill their specific plumbing needs.
In this blog, we will discuss different types of industrial valves, and their pros and cons.
4 Types of Industrial Valves
- Ball Valves
Ball valves are the valves that have a ball inside them to control the flow of substances. The ball in these valves allow the hole to open, block, or partially open in order to regulate the flow of fluids passing through the valve. Ball valves make the best choice for using with gases because they provide better sealing. They support pressures up to 700 bars and temperatures up to 200 degrees Celsius.
Pros:
- Compact
- Low maintenance
- Cost-effective
- Leak-proof
- Open and close easily
- Multi-way design flexibility
Cons:
- Not suitable for permanent throttling
- When used for residual fluids, the fluid particles may collide with the surfaces and stick to them, causing abrasion, leakage, and other problems.
- Gate Valves
Designed to serve as isolation valves, these valves help control the flow of liquid through the pipes. These valves are affixed to the pipelines to start or stop the flow of liquids. These valves work by lifting of a circular part of the rectangular gate out of the fluid path. Since the diameter of the pipeline and the gate have the same opening, these valves obstruct nothing when they are open.
Pros:
- Low friction loss
- Can be used both ways in the circuit
- Provide laminar flow
- Low pressure-drop when opened fully and tight sealing
Cons:
- Don’t open or close quickly
- Cause vibrations
- Leakage can occur in high-temperature applications
- Complex maintenance and repair
- Check Valve
Also known as Non-Return Valves (NRV), check valves allow the flow of liquid in one direction only. The liquid passing through them cannot flow back in the reverse direction. The main purpose of using check valves is to prevent process flow from reversing in the system that could damage equipment or ruin the process. They are mainly used for protecting pumps in liquid applications or compressors in gas systems.
Pros:
- Prevent backflow
- Sustain pressure
- Serve as backup system
Cons:
- Cannot be used with pulsating systems
- Closing component may crash and lead to damage and excessive wear
- Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valves are designed to regulate flow but comes with limited control capability. They can be easily operated by rotating the handle 90 degrees. Flowing liquid can be regulated and allowed through intermediate rotations. These valves can also be configured to work electronically, manually, or pneumatically.
These valves are used in a wide range of applications, such water supply, fire protection, and wastewater management.
Pros:
- Very accurate
- Reliable
- Little maintenance
- Can throttle flow
- Easy installation and no pipe system dislocation needed
Cons:
- No tight turn off
- Some portion of the disc always remain exposed to the flow, even when fully opened.
For high-quality industrial valves and fittings, please contact Sunel Wala Building Materials LLC (SWBM) – your trusted valves and fittings supplier in the UAE.
