CHECK VALVE BS 1868, API 6D, API 602

A check valve prevents potentially damaging back-flows to protect equipment like pumps and compressors. Non-return valves
allow the flow of the fluid in one direction only and block reverse flows. This type of valves is available with cast and forged
bodies (BS 1868, API 6D, API 602) and in several designs as swing, ball, lift, stop and piston designs.

Briefly said, a check valve is a protection device that prevents the fluid from flowing in an unwanted direction within the piping
system or the pipeline (as backflows may damage upstream equipment).

How does a check valve work?

The valve lets the fluid flow in the desired direction only (if there is enough pressure), and blocks any flow in the opposite
direction. Also, the valve closes automatically when the pressure drops.  It is therefore critical that the valve is installed with a
proper orientation!

Note that this type of valve accomplishes its scope without external forces or actuation. This is a key difference vs. gate or globe
valves, that need an external force to work (level, wheel, gear or actuator).

KEY SPECIFICATIONS

 BS 1868: Specification for Steel check valves (flanged and butt-welding ends) for the petroleum, petrochemical and
allied industries
 API 6D: for pipeline valves
 API 602 / BS 5351: forged steel (swing, ball, piston)
 API 603: stainless steel stop type
 ASME B16.34 (pressure and temperature ratings)
 ASME B16.5/ASME B16.47 (flanged end connections)
 ASME B16.25 (butt weld connections)

DESIGN STANDARD

 BS 1868: Specification for Steel check valves (flanged and butt-welding ends) for the petroleum, petrochemical and
allied industries

 API 594 : Check Valves: Flanged, Lug, Wafer, and Butt-welding

Type 'A' check valves are short face-to-face as defined in Table 3 and Table 4 and can be: wafer, lug, or double flanged; single
plate or dual plate; gray iron, ductile iron, steel, nickel alloy, or other alloy designed for installation between Classes 125 and
250 cast iron flanges as specified in ASME B16.1, between Classes 150 and 300 ductile iron flanges as specified in ASME B16.42,
between Classes 150 and 2500 steel flanges as specified in ASME B16.5, and between Classes 150 and 600 steel pipeline flanges
as specified in MSS SP-44 or steel flanges as specified in ASME B16.47.

Type 'B' bolted cover swing check valves are long face-to-face as defined in 5.1.2 and can be: flanged or butt-welding ends of
steel, nickel alloy, or other alloy material. End flanges shall be as specified in ASME B16.5 or ends shall be butt-welding as
specified in ASME B16.25.

 API 6D: for pipeline valves

TESTING STANDARD

 API 598: Valves inspection and test.

CHECK VALVE TYPES

As the name indicates, these valves are used to ensure unidirectional flow of fluids. Check valves are mainly divided into two
types based on check mechanism.

 Lift check valves

 Swing check valves

The type is selected depending upon the service, size and material of construction. Normally, small bore valves (up to 2” NB)
are selected as lift check and big bore as swing check due to constructional limitations.

LIFT CHECK VALVES:

These valves operate by the lifting action of the disk/element. The different types of lift check valves available are

 Piston lift check

 Ball lift check
 Non-slam check

Piston lift check:

The piston lift valve has body similar to that of globe valve. The piston will be in cylindrical form, the lower end of which is
shaped to form a seating disk. The cylindrical part fits into the guide making an effective dash pot. When it is in fully open
position, the net area between the seating disk and the seat will be equal to the area through the seats. The body will be
provided with renewable body seat rings like in globe valves. In carbon steel valves, there can be hard faced seats deposited
directly on to the body. The lift check valves can also be provided with spring loaded piston. In this case, a spring of specified
tension has to be placed, between the guide and the piston within the cylindrical portion. **The piston
lift check valves can only be placed in the horizontal position.

**Piston Check Valves are particularly suitable for high-pressure service where velocity of flow is high.
Ball lift check:

In ball lift check valves the unidirectional flow is achieved by the movement of a ball. There are two designs possible in this
pattern, the horizontal and the vertical. In vertical design, the valve should be placed in such a way that the flow is always in the
upward direction. These check valves are provided with guides to guide the ball throughout the travel. The
travel should be such that in fully open position, the net area between the ball and the seat shall be at least equal to the area
through the seat.

The main part of lift check valves are the following.

 Body
 Ball/piston
 Cover seat
 Guide
 Gasket
 Cover stud nut

a) The body shall be of forged or cast construction and with socket welded/screwed/flanged ends, integrally cast or with
welded-on flanges.
b) The cover shall be either bolted or welded or with union nuts. The union nuts could be of hexagonal or octagonal shape.
The cover material shall be same as that of the body.
c) The seating shall be integral or renewable. The hardness difference can also be achieved by weld deposit on seating
surfaces. The renewable seat rings shall be screwed-in type either shoulder seated or bottom seated.
d) The body cover gasket when provided shall be suitable for the pressure-temperature rating of the valve. Normally, spiral
wound metallic, or jacketed or soft iron gaskets are used.
e) For body/cover bolting, both carbon and alloy steel studs are used.

Non-slam check valves:

The non-slam check valve is a spring-loaded lift check valve with a modified design of the body. The valve is designed in such a
way that the same can be sandwiched between the two flanges. Here the disc is held in position by a spring which is housed in a
housing cap or yoke.
SWING CHECK VALVES:
These valves operate by the swinging action of the disk. There are two types of swing check valves available.

 Conventional swing check valves with flanged ends

 Wafer type spring loaded check valves.

Conventional Swing check valves:

In these types of valves, the check mechanism is the disk which is hinged. The pressure of the fluid lifts the disk and allows the
flow. The disk returns to the seat with its own weight. This allows the valve for mounting in horizontal as well as vertical
position with upward fluid flow.
The main parts of the valves are –

 Body
 Disk
 Cover
 Seat ring
 Hinge
 Cover stud and nut
 Cover gasket.

a) The body will be cast with a tapered wedge seat and will be provided with renewable seat rings.
b) The wall thickness and end to end/face to face dimensions of the body shall be as per the regulatory code to which it is
designed. The end flanges shall be integrally cast or attached by welding. The flanged connection shall be to ASME B 16.5
or any other flange standard. The butt welding end connection shall be to ASME B 16.25.
c) The disk will be attached to the body through hinge and hinge pin and swings against the same controlling the flow. The
disk material shall be of quality at least equal to that of the body.
d) The cover will be bolted on to the body. The bolted connection shall be raised face/tongue and groove/male and
female/ring type joint depending on the pressure rating of the valve.
e) The gasket shall be selected to suit the type of connection. It can be corrugated or flat solid metal,corrugated or flat metal
jacketed, asbestos filled, metal ring joint, spiral wound asbestos filled.
f) Flat ring compressed asbestos is used for low pressure application,Teflon or Teflon filled for corrosive applications.
g) Normally high tensile bolts are used for cover bolting. In cast iron check valves low carbon bolts are used.
Wafer check valves:

The wafer check valves are the flangeless swing check valves. These are covered under the regulatory code API 594. There are
two types of wafer check valve designs available.

 Single plate wafer check valve.

 Dual plate wafer check valve.

The arrangement of single plate check valve is somewhat similar to the conventional swing check valve. Here a circular plate
seated against the valve body seat by line back pressure or flow reversal acts as a valve closure. This is further aided by the
provision of spring.
In dual plate check valves, there are two spring-loaded semi-circular plates. The plates are arranged in such a way that the
spring force acts beyond the centre of area of each plate and the fluid force acts within the same. This fulcrum causes the heel
to open first, preventing rubbing of the seal surface prior to normal opening.

The main parts of the wafer check valves are –

 Body
 Plates
 Seat ring
 Hinge
 Spring.

a) The body is normally cast and is of any cast material. The sizes specified in API 594 are from 2” NB to 48” NB.
Manufacturers have developed standards beyond these sizes as well.
b) The plates shall be made of material at least equal to that of the body. The body and plate seating surface can be
renewable or integral or with deposited metal. The seat surface could be stellited or can be of resilient material.
c) In these valves, the items specified under trim are the seating surfaces, springs, hinge and bearings. Table 4 of API – 594
gives trim numbers and the corresponding material of construction.
d) Compared to conventional check valves, these have less pressure drop across the valve in larger sizes, reduced water
hammer and are compact.

Single plate wafer check valve

Dual plate wafer check valve