Five Tips for Selecting the Right Valve | ISM

Choose the right valve means answering key questions first

Published: August 1,  
Last updated: December 30,  

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Knowing what makes a valve the right choice
Valves control gas and liquid flow in almost every process and system. As common as they are, choosing the right valve can sometimes be time consuming and confusing.

Begin valve selection by first gathering some basic information on system performance requirements. Knowing this will make it easier to find the right valve. The five tips in this article focus on how to match valve features with these requirements.
 

Tip 1 &#; Valve size and type
Choose the right valve type. Every valve needs to perform one or more basic functions:

• Shut off flow
• Divert flow
• Mix flow
• Pressure relief
• Backflow prevention
• Adjust flow

Function determines the design of standard valve types. These are some of the most common valve types:

• Check valves
• Ball valves
• Needle valves
• Metering valves
• Toggle valves
• Stopcocks
• Relief valves
• Regulators
• Pinch valves

Properly sizing the valve is also important. The right valve choice means matching the valve&#;s size to expected flow through the system.

Common Valve Types at VMA, Valve Manufacturers Association of America

How to Select the Right Valve (with Pros and Cons) at Indelac Controls

Tip 2 &#; Materials of construction
Know the chemical compatibility requirements. The valve materials need to be compatible with the gases or liquids flowing through it. Plastic valves usually resist harsh or corrosive chemicals better than metal valves.

Miniature Ball Valves: Plastic, Brass or Stainless Steel? at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.

Chemical Compatibility Chart at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.

Tip 3 &#; Performance requirements
Determine the pressure and temperature requirements. Find out both the temperature and pressure ranges where the valve will be installed. Metal valves tend to withstand higher temperatures and pressures than plastic valves. Metal valves are also usually best for pressurized gases. This is because they tend to be stronger than plastic valves.

A Selection Criterion for Pump and Valve Reliability at Processing Magazine

Tip 4 &#; Check valves have special requirements
Be sure the new check valve will work as expected. Look at the response time needed as well as the cracking pressure required to open the valve.

Another consideration is normally closed vs normally open. There are basic check valve designs that require positive downstream pressure to open. These are usually referred to as normally closed check valves. There are other designs that require a positive backpressure to close. These are usually called normally open check valves. An appropriate choice between these two can improve check valve reliability. It is usually best to base this decision on whether the valve is usually open more or usually closed more during normal system operation.

Some check valve types may not work properly if mounted vertically instead of horizontally. Flow direction (upwards vs downwards) and fluid density both matter for check valve designs that can be mounted vertically.

Checking Out Check Valves &#; An Introduction at ISM, Industrial Specialties Mfg.

Tip 5 &#;Maintenance
Don't forget to consider ongoing maintenance. Any valve choice should include attention to maintenance requirements. This is important for both valve reliability and application stability.

A good example of this are ball valves. They resist clogging, jamming or malfunctioning. But they are not suitable for adjusting flow. Using them to control flow can lead to leaking or premature failure.

Valve connection type affects the ease and speed of repair or replacement. Each connection type (threaded, barbed, push-in, Luer, and so on) has its pros and cons.

Plant and Equipment Maintenance at HSE, Health and Safety Executive

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Knowing where to start makes valve choice faster and easier
There it is. Knowing particular information beforehand, makes choosing the right valve easier and more certain. There will always be complications like application requirements, operating conditions and chemical compatibility. Starting with basic valve requirements will simplify and speed up valve selection:

• Valve size and type
• Materials of construction
• Performance requirements
• Check valve specific requirements
• Maintenance planning
   

Some additional resources 

How ISM can help you find the right miniature valve for your application
Personalized customer service and resources available at the ISM website can be a great help when selecting a valve. Available online resources include chemical compatibility reference guides, dimensional drawings and product data sheets. Our online and PDF flow control valve catalogs provide access to a wide variety of miniature valve types, connection types, materials and sizes:

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We offer a line of ideas, so if you don't see it - ask for it. Let us turn your ideas for pneumatic or fluidic circuitry assemblies into reality &#; from conception to finished product.

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Industrial valves are indispensable flow control devices that regulate, isolate, initiate, stop, and alter the direction of fluids. These devices can also relieve excess pressure from a piping system or from pressurized vessels. There are multiple valve designs and sizes to suit different industrial applications. Choosing or utilizing the wrong valve can affect the quality and consistency of industrial processes negatively. Engineers consider several process variables, fluid properties and environmental conditions when sizing and selecting valves.

Effective industrial valves should provide a reliable and durable fluid service &#; dispensing fluids at the required flow rates, sealing against leakages, backflows and emissions, and maintaining optimal sensitivity to pressure and temperature changes in the pipeline. Valve components should provide adequate physical and chemical resistance to corrosion by service fluids and immediate environments.

Understanding the operation of different categories of valves is beneficial for choosing and customizing flow control solutions for several industrial applications. How complex is the valve selection process, and what factors should engineers consider when selecting industrial valves to minimize their total cost of ownership?

1. 

Compatibility of Valve Materials with the Service Media

Industrial pipelines handle fluids with different physical characteristics &#; they can be liquid, gaseous or semi-solid (slurries), with varying chemical compositions. One should explicitly understand the qualities of the service fluid before choosing a valve. Materials used to manufacture valves should provide adequate resistance to the erosive actions of service fluids. Abrasive fluids cause premature failure of internal components like seals and closing mechanisms.

Ensure that valve materials are compatible with the service media. Extreme fluid service pipelines &#; like industrial chemical pipelines, viscous fluid service and cryogenic applications &#; require valves made from stainless steel, molybdenum and/or even chromium alloys. The valves can utilize metallic or chemically resistant seals. These materials provide excellent corrosion resistance and can accommodate extreme temperature and pressure changes. If unsure of compatibility, always talk with a valve engineering expert to confirm proper configuration for your service.

2. 

Temperature and Pressure Classifications

Every pipeline has a specific temperature and pressure class, defining the allowable operating range. The performance of an industrial valve should remain consistent as the pressure and temperature of the service fluid change. High process temperature and pressure can lower the strength of valve materials, increasing the risk of valve shell rupture.

When selecting industrial valves, one should confirm if the temperature and pressure range is within the desired pipeline ratings. Valve materials and wall thicknesses should accommodate the maximum pressure and temperature of the pipeline without failing over multiple cycles. The valve should provide a reliable safety margin, in case an emergency causes fluid conditions to exceed the designed limits. Manufacturers rely on standards like ASME B16.34, which defines the allowable pressure and temperature ratings for different body materials.

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