Control Valves – More Than Meets the Eye

News 26 September, 2022

Control valves are important pieces of equipment in industrial settings because they allow workers to control the flow of certain liquids and gases when switching them on and off with great precision. This article explains what you need to know about these devices so you can understand why they’re used and how they help your business run more smoothly.

Control valves are crucial parts of industrial processes, from manufacturing to food processing to cleaning and sanitation. There are many control valves, each with its unique purpose and use. In this article, we’ll look at choosing the right control valve for your needs and some common problems with using certain types of control valves. If you want to know more about this topic, read on!

Pressure Regulators

There are many types of pressure regulators to fit every need. For example, a Pressure Reducing Regulator is designed to cut off the gas flow at a predetermined pressure level. This is often used in settings where the gas must be delivered at lower pressures, such as homes with high gas consumption or those that live in hard-to-reach places with few potential customers.

A cut-off regulator is exactly what it sounds like: it completely cuts off the gas flow if the pressure reaches its threshold setting. If you’re wondering why this type of regulator would be necessary, think about how inconvenient it would be to have your heat or water turned off when you can’t find a plumber right away. You can rest assured that your appliances will keep working until you have time to make a call.

Flow Controls

Flow control valves regulate gas or liquid flow by blocking the appropriate valve opening. Flow control valves are pressure-activated devices that respond to a change in pressure with an adjustable proportion of fluid. As its pressure increases, the valve opens more, allowing more fluid to pass through. Similarly, as its pressure decreases, the valve closes less, allowing less fluid to pass through. This principle can be applied in many ways depending on your specific needs. For example, you may need high-pressure water at one point in your house and low-pressure water at another. By installing two flow control valves where these two points meet, you can use different pressures for each without overloading one or running out of water on the other end.

Comparing different Valves

Many people have questions about the different types of valves in water systems. The most common types are shut-off valves, relief valves, pilot check valves, low-pressure control valves, and high-pressure control valves. The shutter check valve can control the flow of liquid. The shut-off valve makes it easy to stop the flow of liquid by turning a handle. A relief valve is placed on a pressurized pipe or tank to prevent an uncontrolled release of steam or gas that could harm system operators or property.

A pilot check valve prevents backflow when a pump stops running. Low-pressure control valves regulate water pressure for household plumbing fixtures. High-pressure control valves regulate large flows of industrial gases and liquids such as natural gas pipelines and refineries.

The Different Brands of Control Valves

There are many manufacturers of control valves in the market, and they are as follows:

  1. Siemens Control Valves  Siemens offers a variety of control valves for all your needs, including process gas control valves and vacuum system valves. Available products include directional control valves, pressure regulators, spool-type valves, and needle-type check valves. It’s not just their products that set them apart, though- they also offer custom-engineered solutions.
  2. Schneider Electric Control Valves –  As a world leader in power management and automation, Schneider Electric has been designing and supplying control valves since 1960. They offer many different product lines, from ball to butterfly valves. One thing they pride themselves on is how competitively priced their products are.
  3. KMC Control Valves –  The company was founded in 1999, so they’re not quite as established as some others, but this doesn’t stop them from being one of the leading manufacturers in China. They manufacture metal ball valves, globe valves, gate valves, and plug valves, among others.
  4. Erie Control Valves – These are a perfect choice if you want something more lightweight than cast iron. Erie control valves come in many styles, such as ball, gate, globe, and more.

Backflow Preventers

A backflow preventer prevents the flow of contaminated water or sewage from entering your potable water supply. They do this by preventing water from traveling backward to a place where it can potentially contaminate your drinking water. The two backflow preventers are an atmospheric type that relies on air pressure and an automatic vacuum breaker that relies on building vacuums to function. Atmospheric backflow preventers require more energy for operation but also provide excellent protection against leaks.

Automatic vacuum breakers are easier to install but don’t always provide as much protection against leaks as atmospheric devices. Additionally, they may be more susceptible to freezing in cold climates. However, they are less expensive and have a shorter lifetime cost when compared with atmospheric devices. A reducer is used to reduce the size of pipe connections so that pipes can transition from one size to another.

Remotely Operated Ball Valves

A remotely operated ball valve is an ideal solution for situations where you need to isolate the flow of liquid or gas. For example, they can control where fluid will go in your home plumbing system. Their modular design makes them highly customizable so that they can be fitted with a gauge to monitor the pressure in the container and a quick-release feature so that disconnecting is as easy as turning a lever. Ball valves are also more economical than other types of valves because no packing material is required since it does not contain any moving parts.

Final Thoughts

While most businesses focus on optimizing their manufacturing processes to ensure maximum output, it’s important to remember that they also have to be concerned with minimizing waste and ensuring the safety of their employees and customers alike. In many cases, the simplest way to achieve this goal is by using control valves in the right places throughout their facilities. Luckily, plenty of these valves are available in varying shapes and sizes, so you’ll be able to find exactly what you need.