There can be any number of different valves for any project, and then there are some applications that are ideally suited to just one specific type of valve. Often, and particularly in retrofit and repair projects, the same type of industrial valves are ordered as replacement units, and this may not always provide the most effective valve option.
While the general design of industrial valves may not change significantly over time, the materials and the features on the valves continue to advance and be improved by valve manufacturers. This leads to better valve performance and duty cycle lengths, even in the most extreme types of operating conditions.
In addition to the materials used on seals, seats and valve housings, automation features and control of valves through technology and systems has also advanced. Better seals and more precision control options for all types of valves, but specifically valves that are responsible for flow volume or pressure modulation can now be automated to provide warnings and alarms with much tighter operating parameters.
Specific Types of Valves
Whether valves are self-regulated, such as check valves, or they are controlled manually or by automated processes, they can also be designed for specific industries. For example, butterfly valves are used frequently in the energy sector, and specifically in oil and gas systems and pipelines. Ball valves are used in industrial applications where a tight and quick shut off type of valve is crucial to the operation.
Each option in industrial valves has to be carefully considered as to the specific requirement of the valve. Issues such as the direction of flow through the valve, the pressure loss through the valve, and the precision control or purpose of the valve have to be weighed against how a general or specific type of valve performs in the given application.
