A Guide for Buying the Flow Control Valves

The most common use of the flow control valve is to regulate the speed of motors and cylinders within the hydraulic system. A flow control valve can affect the rate of energy transfer at any given time in a system by influencing the flow rate. 

According to ABLIS (Australian Business Licence and Information Service), every manufacturing unit, when importing or exporting a boiler, must comply with the Australian Standard AS 1271-2003. Companies like Hydraulic Online assemble designs, fabricates, and repairs all the hydraulic system products as per these standards.

The system operators can use a flow control valve to change the fittings and depressurise a serviceable hose. Flow control valves are also widely used in consumer applications like water showers, faucets, and plant watering systems. These valves have incredible performance features; hence they are also used in food processing, warehouse equipment, material handling, and automated factories.

Let’s learn how to buy flow control valves based on the different types available.

Gate Valves

Engineers make use of gate valves where there is a requirement of minimum pressure loss and free bore. There is no blockage in the flow path with gate valves installed, which results in minimal loss of pressure.

Gate valves are applicable for wastewater, potable water, and neutral fluids; in temperatures between -20 and 70 degrees Celsius. The maximum flow velocity should be 5 metres/second and the differential pressure up to 16-bar.

Globe Valves 

Companies like Hydraulic Online have globe valves in different sizes ranging from NPS 12 (DN 300) to NPS 48 (DN 1200). The most preferred flow control valves in the industries are globe valves because they are good at regulating flow.

Globe valves are used to turn the throttling applications on/off. They have a disk that can close the flow path completely. NPS 12 (DN 300) is the practical size of globe valves because the pressure exerted on the disc transfers to the valve stem.

Pinch Valves

It is an ideal flow control valve for applications of liquids containing significant amounts of suspended fluids. Also, it is one of the cost-effective flow control valves. Rubber tubes are pinched using pinch valves to turn off the flow.

For actuating the pinch valves, the hydraulic pressure or air pressure is directly placed on the elastomer sleeve. The built-in-actuator in the pinch valve’s body eliminates pneumatic, electric, or expensive hydraulic operators.

Diaphragm Valves

These valves are ideal for handling erosive, corrosive, and dirty devices. They feature a leak-proof seal and have a tight shut-off. Diaphragm valves are extremely clean, easy to maintain, and reduce leakage successfully.

The only disadvantages of using diaphragm valves are they cannot be used in multi-turn operations and do not have industry-specific dimensions. Also, these valves are required to be manufactured with corrosive-resistant material.

Needle Valves

Needle valves are somewhat similar to globe valves. They share some design features and have the same benefits. Both these valves empower the operators to change the flow rate using a threaded rotating system.

Needle valves are considered superior to globe valves as they are an ideal choice for calibration applications. Needle valves can achieve precision and also are capable of being fine-tuned.

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