Valves used in industry are referred to as ‘industrial valves’ and are used to regulate, control, or direct the flow of gases, liquids, or slurries.
Industrial valves, such as Orseal industrial valves, are often made of more robust materials than standard valves and are key inventory items for industrial equipment suppliers.
There are several types of industrial valves available, including ball valves, butterfly valves, check valves, and globe valves. Let’s look at these four types in more detail:
Industrial ball valves
Ball valves are classified as ‘quarter-turn’ shut-off or ‘isolation’ valves. They are used to control the flow and pressure of liquids or gases and use a perforated ball/sphere. When the valve is open – via a simple 90-degree turn of the handle on top – the hole in the ball allows the media to pass through; when closed, it prevents flow.
Ball valves are a popular choice in the oil and gas industries and in manufacturing and chemicals/petrochemicals; however, these are not suitable for use with solids/slurries.
Industrial butterfly valves
Butterfly valves are another member of the ‘quarter-turn’ valve family. Instead of a ball, they use a disc within the valve, which rotates to open/close.
Butterfly valves can often be found in water supply and wastewater treatment systems. They are lightweight, can be used for throttling, are easy to use/install, and can handle a variety of fluids including high-temperature and high-pressure water.
Industrial check valves
Check valves feature a disc inside that opens more as the pressure increases and vice versa. If the pressure/flow reverses, the disc inside closes. This gives check valves a major benefit over other types: they can prevent backflow and are, in a sense, self-automated. They are sometimes called non-return valves.
These valves are used in industries including petrochemical, nuclear, chemical, oilfield production, and waste-water management.
Industrial globe valves
Globe valves can be used to stop, start, or regulate flow. They consist of two halves separated by an internal baffle. They are found in many industries, including oil and gas (pipelines), nuclear (power plants), and utilities (power generation and water treatment).
