INTRODUCTION TO VALVES: WHAT

ARE VALVES & HOW DO THEY WORK?

Everything you need to know from valve types and standards to materials and uses

WHAT ARE VALVES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

At their most basic, valves are devices that work to control, regulate or
direct flow within a system or process.

They often feature a range of characteristics that help to define their

ideal application.

However, whether you’re looking to control flow, provide safety in a

system that is piping liquids, solids, gasses or anything in between,
there are likely stainless steel valves available to help.

Valves provide several functions, including:

• Starting or stopping flow based on the valve state

• Regulating flow and pressure within a piping system
• Controlling the direction of flow within a piping system
• Throttling flow rates within a piping system
• Improving safety through relieving pressure or vacuum in a piping
system

VALVE OPENING METHODS EXPLAINED

While many valves accomplish similar goals, how they do so
mechanically can vary.

How a valve opens and closes will not only impact the overall
performance but also determine how much control you have over the
flow and how quickly the valve can operate.

Most valves fit into one of three categories:

 • Multi-Turn valves: Think of these valves like a screw or piston. You
crank the handle and the plug, plate, membrane, or other
controlling obstruction moves into the path of the pipe blocking
access. Depending on the valve, these can have higher or lower
differentials allowing you to open or close them at various
speeds.
• Quarter turn valves: Quarter-turn valves offer a full range of
motion in a 90-degree turn of the handle. This makes them ideal
for situations where precision isn’t as important as rapid action
and easy opening or closing.

On top of the mechanical motion involved with a valve, also consider

the method of actuation. In most cases, valves fall into one of three
categories:

• Manual Valves: Typically adjusted by hand, these valves use

handwheels, hand levels, gear wheels, or chains to actuate.
 • Actuated Valves: Often connected to electric motors, air or
pneumatic systems, hydraulic systems, or solenoids, these valves
allow remote control and automation for high-precision or large-
scale applications.
• Automatic Valves: Some valves activate when a specific flow
condition is met. Examples include check valves closing during
backflow or pressure release valves activating when an over-
pressure condition is detected.

COMMON VALVE TYPES AND THEIR

APPLICATIONS
Valves feature a range of characteristics, standards, and groupings the
help to give you an idea of their intended applications and expected
performance. Valve designs are one of the most basic ways to sort the
huge range of valves available and finding a good fit for a project or
process.

Common types of valves include:

BALL
VALVE

Predominantly
equipped with
quick-acting
90-degree turn
handles, these
valves use a
ball to control
flow to
provide easy
on-off control.
Generally
accepted by
operators to be
faster and
easier to
operate than
gate valves.
BUTTERFL
Y VALVE

Using a
compact
design, the
butterfly valve
is a quick-
acting rotary
motion valve
ideal for tight
spaces thanks
to its wafer
type design.
Butterfly
valve bodies
are offered in
many different
configurations
.
CHECK
VALVE

Used to
prevent
backflow,
these valves
are typically
self-activated
allowing the
valve
automatically
opens when
media passes
through the
valve in the
intended
direction and
close should
flow reverse.
GATE
VALVE

As one of the
most common
valve types,
gate valves
use linear
motion to start
and stop the
flow. These
are typically
not used for
flow
regulation.
Instead, they
used in the
fully open or
closed
positions.
KNIFE
GATE
VALVE

Typically used
for controlling
flow of media
containing
solids, the
knife gate
valve features
a thin gate
controlled
through linear
action which
can cut
through
materials and
create a seal.

While not
suited for
high-pressure
implementatio
ns, these
valves are
ideal for use
with grease,
oils, paper
pulp, slurry,
wastewater
and other
media which
might obstruct
the operation
of other valve
types.

GLOBE
VALVE

Globe valves
are typically
applied in
modulating
control
operations.
Typically
avaialable in
three body
types, T-body
(as shown
above), Y-
Pattern, and
Angle body.

NEEDLE
VALVE

Typically used
in small
diameter
piping systems
when fine,
accurate flow
control is
needed,
Needle valves
get their name
from the point
on a conical
disc used
within.
PINCH
VALVE

Often used for

handling solid
materials,
slurries and
liquids with
suspended
solids, pinch
valves use a
linear motion.
Typically
Pinch Valves
feature an
internal sleeve
to isolate the
media.
PLUG
VALVE

Using a quick-
acting quarter-
turn valve
handle, these
valves control
flow using
tapered or
cylindrical
plugs. They
provide some
of the best
ratings when
tight shutoff is
essential and
are reliable in
high-pressure
or high-
temperature
environments.
 PRESSUR
E RELIEF
VALVE

Used to help
improve
safety, these
valves are
spring-
automated and
will help to
return a
system to the
desired
pressure
during over-
pressure
events.

You might also see valves classified by function instead of design.

Common functional designations and their common design types include:

• Isolation Valves: Ball, butterfly, diaphragm, gate, pinch, piston, and

plug valves
• Regulation Valves: Ball, butterfly, diaphragm, globe, needle, pinch,
and plug valves
• Safety Relief Valves: Pressure release and vacuum relief valves

• Non-Return Valves: Swing check and lift check valves

• Special Purpose Valves: Multi-port, float, foot, knife gate, and line
blind valves

VALVE SIZING EXPLAINED: KEEPING THINGS

FLOWING
While valves might be a small part of your piping process or system in
terms of space, they’re often a substantial portion of the design and
build budget. They also have a significant impact on long-term costs
and overall system performance.
Choosing a proper valve size is essential to both optimizing costs and
ensuring safe, accurate, and reliable operation.

The first thing to consider is the overall size of the valve -- both in terms
of physical dimensions and in terms of internal size and flow rates (CV).

Choosing a valve that does not fit properly in the space required could
result in added costs. Choosing a valve which does not provide the ideal
flow rate can lead to inaccurate flow control at the least and complete
system failure at worst.

For example, if your valve is too small, it could cause reduced flow
downstream while creating back-pressure upstream. If the valve is too
large, you’ll find that flow control is drastically reduced the further you
move from fully open or fully closed.

When choosing the proper size, be sure to consider both the connector
diameter and the overall flow rate of the valve compared to your needs.
Some valves offer excellent flow while others constrict flow and
increase pressure.

This means sometimes you must install a larger valve to adjust for flow
than the adapter diameter alone might imply.

VALVE END CONNECTIONS: THE KEY TO A GOOD

FIT AND PROPER OPERATION
With sizing and design out of the way, it’s also important to consider
valve end connections.

Common Valve End Types. Source: Unified Alloys

While the most obvious implication here is choosing an end connection
compatible with your piping, there are also functional characteristics to
common end types that might make one valve more suited to your
needs than another.

Common valve connections and ends include:

• Screwed or Threaded: Often used in instrument connections or

sample points
• Flanged: The most common ends for piping use

• Butt Welded: Typically used in high-pressure or high-temperature

operations
• Socket Welded: Commonly used on small bore piping where
threaded connections are not permitted
• Wafer and Lug: Often used for compact valves installed in systems
with limited space

VALVE MATERIALS: ENSURING SAFETY AND

LONG-LASTING PERFORMANCE
Depending on your intended use, the materials with which your valves
are made might be a critical aspect in ensuring safe operation and
reducing maintenance and replacement costs over the life of your
operation.

Stainless steel valves are excellent options in a range of processing

environments, including those involving corrosive media (such as
chemicals, saltwater, and acids), environments with strict sanitation
standards (such as food and beverage manufacturing and
pharmaceuticals), and processes involving high pressure or high
temperatures.

However, if you are processing solvents, fuels, or volatile organic

compounds (VOCs), choosing a valve material from a non-sparking
material -- such as brass, bronze, copper, or even plastic -- is often a
better option. In addition to selecting the correct body material,
internal (wetted) trim parts should be evaluated for chemical
compatibility as well. If your valve contains elastomers, they should also
be evaluated for their chemical compatibility as well as pressure and
temperature limitations.

VALVE STANDARDS: MEETING COMPLIANCE AND

REGULATORY CONCERNS
Depending on your intended usage, you might find that valves must
adhere to particular standards to meet regulatory requirements for
safety, sanitation, or other concerns.

While there are too many standard organizations and potential

regulations to cover in detail, common general standard organizations
include:

• CSA Group (CSA)

• The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• The American Society for Testing Materials International (ASTM
International)
• The Manufacturers Standardization Society (MSS)
• The International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• The Public Health and Safety Organization (NSF)
• NACE International (NACE)
• The American Petroleum Institute (API)
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)

There are also industry-specific standards to consider.

Major standards organizations by industry include:

• ASHRAE Valve Standards

• ASME BPVC Valve Standards
• ASSE Valve Standards
• ISA Valve Standards
• NFPA Valve Standards
• SAE Valve Standards