Factors to consider while choosing Valve
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHILE CHOOSING VALVE
Valves play a critical role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of industrial safety and fluid handling systems. When selecting industrial valves, several factors must be taken into consideration to guarantee optimal performance, durability, and safety. Valves serve three fundamental functions: stopping and starting the flow, checking the flow, and throttling. These functions extend to a broader range of applications, including flow regulation, pressure reduction, protection against corrosive substances, leak prevention, and overall system safety. Therefore, it’s essential to carefully assess these factors and select valves that align with the specific requirements of the system to ensure seamless operation and protection against potential hazards.
This blog will give more insights into the key factors while choosing industrial valves.
Mastering the Application
To understand the specific application is the most crucial part, which involves:
Knowing the fluid properties
In engineering and industrial applications, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the properties of various fluids. These properties include but are not limited to the chemical composition of the fluids, their physical state (liquid, gas, or slurry), as well as factors such as viscosity, temperature and pressure variations, resistance to flow, corrosiveness, and overall chemical makeup. This detailed understanding enables engineers and designers to select the most suitable valve materials and designs to effectively handle the specific characteristics and requirements of different fluids. For instance, fluids with high corrosiveness may require valves constructed from corrosion-resistant materials, while those with varying viscosities may necessitate different design considerations to ensure optimal performance.
- Operating conditions: When considering operating conditions for a specific application or industry, it’s important to identify the parameters needed for proper functioning. These parameters typically include nominal pressure, temperature, flow rate, and other relevant factors. By carefully evaluating these parameters, one can accurately determine the appropriate valve size and material selection to ensure optimal performance and reliability. For instance, if the industry handles highly corrosive elements, then you have to choose the valve which is capable of handling such elements. Diaphragm valves are generally used in handling corrosive elements.
- Functions of valve: Before any installation, it is important to define the specific function that a valve will serve. Valves can be designed to regulate the flow of fluids or gases within a system, to act as on-off switches, or to isolate specific substances in a pipeline. It’s important to note that different types of valves are optimized for different functions, and selecting the right valve for a particular application is essential for optimal system performance. For example, safety valves are specially designed to remove excess pressure from the system, when it exceeds the threshold limit.
- Cycle frequency: the duration of operation valve can be an important factor to be considered. This can sufficiently influence the actuator type used or the whole design structure of the valve.
- Environmental factors: the specific place where the valve will be installed is crucial. The ambient temperature, humidity, or any potential contaminants must be considered while choosing the valve for specific industries.
Considering the Valve Materials
The nature of fluids for every industry varies, having unique properties. Like
- Corrosive chemicals: acids or alkalis destroy the materials if they are not resistant to them, which will lead to leakage and safety hazards.
- Abrasive materials: slurries like sand, gravel, or any other hard abrasive substances will wear down the system, which will reduce the sealing capacity of the valve.
- Extreme temperature and pressure configurations: it can weaken the valve materials thereby deforming the shape, and structure leading to dangerous events.
- Contamination: it is important to protect the valves from certain types of leaching caused by chemicals, toxins, or pollutants that will contaminate the whole fluid passing through it. Valves should be made from materials that won’t react with the fluid causing leaching.
All these characters will be dealt with one single thing – Valve material. It is important to consider the materials used for valves based on the industry, fluid, temperature, pressure, and so on. For example, stainless steel is widely used for its corrosion resistance while cast iron for general-purpose applications.
Performance and Safety
When you choose a valve for the prevention of leakage of any hazardous gases, ensure that the valve is efficient and specifically designed for leakage prevention, and tight shut-off is possible. Minimizing pressure drop is useful in optimizing the system’s efficiency. To comply with the European Fire safety regulations, the valves must comply with such regulations. It is an important criterion that the Valves should meet specific emission standards, for environmentally sensitive applications.
Maintenance may be required for some kinds of valves, which may be less frequent or more frequent. Having a clear knowledge of these factors can ensure safety and protect from malfunctions and disasters. Quick access to spare parts required for its repair whenever needed is also important.
Emerging trends
The European market and industrial insights throw light on the advancements in renewable energy sectors and other industrial areas. Innovation and safety always come hand in hand everywhere around Europe, especially when it comes to specific industries. Improved performance with actuators and environmentally friendly and energy-efficient valve solutions are the current trends. As technology advances and the valve industry is evolving, staying informed about market trends and technological advancements can help you to choose wisely.
Conclusion
A well-chosen valve will be an informed decision and a strategic decision that can contribute to your industrial standards, and applications and can support your fluid handling systems. Here at ValvesOnly Europe, we ensure that every valve is customized according to your needs, complying with industrial safety standards and regulations.
