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PROCESS PIPING PRODUCTS | CHAPTER 01

Introduction to Valves: What

Are Valves & How Do They
Work?
Everything you need to know from valve types and standards to materials and uses

WHAT ARE VALVES AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

At their most basic, valves are devices that work to control, regulate or direct flow
within a system or process.

They often feature a range of characteristics that help to define their ideal
application.

However, whether you’re looking to control flow, provide safety in a system that is
piping liquids, solids, gasses or anything in between, there are likely stainless steel
valves (/products/valves/) available to help.

Valves provide several functions, including:

Starting or stopping flow based on the valve state

Regulating flow and pressure within a piping system

Controlling the direction of flow within a piping system

Throttling flow rates within a piping system

 Improving safety through relieving pressure or vacuum in a piping system

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VALVE OPENING METHODS EXPLAINED
While many valves accomplish similar goals, how they do so mechanically can vary.

How a valve opens and closes will not only impact the overall performance but also
determine how much control you have over the flow and how quickly the valve can
operate.

Most valves fit into one of three categories:

Multi-Turn valves: Think of these valves like a screw or piston. You crank the
handle and the plug, plate, membrane, or other controlling obstruction moves into
the path of the pipe blocking access. Depending on the valve, these can have
higher or lower differentials allowing you to open or close them at various speeds.

Quarter turn valves: Quarter-turn valves offer a full range of motion in a 90-
degree turn of the handle. This makes them ideal for situations where precision
isn’t as important as rapid action and easy opening or closing.
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On top of the mechanical motion involved with a valve, also consider the method of
actuation. In most cases, valves fall into one of three categories:

Manual Valves: Typically adjusted by hand, these valves use handwheels, hand
levels, gear wheels, or chains to actuate.

Actuated Valves: Often connected to electric motors, air or pneumatic systems,

hydraulic systems, or solenoids, these valves allow remote control and automation
for high-precision or large-scale applications.

Automatic Valves: Some valves activate when a specific flow condition is met.
Examples include check valves closing during backflow or pressure release valves
activating when an over-pressure condition is detected.

COMMON VALVE TYPES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Valves feature a range of characteristics, standards, and groupings the help to give
you an idea of their intended applications and expected performance. Valve designs
are one of the most basic ways to sort the huge range of valves available and finding a
good fit for a project or process.
 Common types of valves include:

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Ball Valve

Predominantly equipped with quick-acting 90-degree turn handles, these valves use a
ball to control flow to provide easy on-off control. Generally accepted by operators to
be faster and easier to operate than gate valves.

Butterfly Valve

Using a compact design, the butterfly valve is a quick-acting rotary motion valve ideal
for tight spaces thanks to its wafer type design. Butterfly valve bodies are offered in
many different configurations.
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Check Valve

Used to prevent backflow, these valves are typically self-activated allowing the valve
automatically opens when media passes through the valve in the intended direction
and close should flow reverse.

Gate Valve
 As one of the most common valve types, gate valves use linear motion to start and
stop the flow. These are typically not used for flow regulation. Instead, they used in
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the fully open or closed positions.

Knife Gate Valve

Typically used for controlling flow of media containing solids, the knife gate valve
features a thin gate controlled through linear action which can cut through materials
and create a seal.

While not suited for high-pressure implementations, these valves are ideal for use with
grease, oils, paper pulp, slurry, wastewater and other media which might obstruct the
operation of other valve types.
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Globe Valve

Globe valves are typically applied in modulating control operations. Typically

avaialable in three body types, T-body (as shown above), Y-Pattern, and Angle body.
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Needle Valve

Typically used in small diameter piping systems when fine, accurate flow control is
needed, Needle valves get their name from the point on a conical disc used within.
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Pinch Valve

Often used for handling solid materials, slurries and liquids with suspended solids,
pinch valves use a linear motion. Typically Pinch Valves feature an internal sleeve to
isolate the media.

Plug Valve
 Using a quick-acting quarter-turn valve handle, these valves control flow using
tapered or cylindrical plugs. They provide some of the best ratings when tight shutoff
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is essential and are reliable in high-pressure or high-temperature environments.

Pressure Relief Valve

Used to help improve safety, these valves are spring-automated and will help to return
a system to the desired pressure during over-pressure events.
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You might also see valves classified by function instead of design.

Common functional designations and their common design types include:

Isolation Valves: Ball, butterfly, diaphragm, gate, pinch, piston, and plug valves

Regulation Valves: Ball, butterfly, diaphragm, globe, needle, pinch, and plug
valves

Safety Relief Valves: Pressure release and vacuum relief valves

Non-Return Valves: Swing check and lift check valves

Special Purpose Valves: Multi-port, float, foot, knife gate, and line blind valves

VALVE SIZING EXPLAINED: KEEPING THINGS FLOWING

 While valves might be a small part of your piping process or system in terms of space,
they’re often a substantial portion of the design and build budget. They also have a
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significant impact on long-term costs and overall system performance.

Choosing a proper valve size is essential to both optimizing costs and ensuring
safe, accurate, and reliable operation.

The first thing to consider is the overall size of the valve — both in terms of physical
dimensions and in terms of internal size and flow rates (CV).

Choosing a valve that does not fit properly in the space required could result in added
costs. Choosing a valve which does not provide the ideal flow rate can lead to
inaccurate flow control at the least and complete system failure at worst.

For example, if your valve is too small, it could cause reduced flow downstream while
creating back-pressure upstream. If the valve is too large, you’ll find that flow control
is drastically reduced the further you move from fully open or fully closed.

When choosing the proper size, be sure to consider both the connector diameter
and the overall flow rate of the valve compared to your needs. Some valves offer
excellent flow while others constrict flow and increase pressure.

This means sometimes you must install a larger valve to adjust for flow than the
adapter diameter alone might imply.

VALVE END CONNECTIONS: THE KEY TO A GOOD FIT AND

PROPER OPERATION
With sizing and design out of the way, it’s also important to consider valve end
connections.
 Common Valve End Types. Source: Unified Alloys

While the most obvious implication here is choosing an end connection compatible
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with your piping, there are also functional characteristics to common end types that
might make one valve more suited to your needs than another.

Common valve connections and ends include:

Screwed or Threaded: Often used in instrument connections or sample points

Flanged: The most common ends for piping use

Butt Welded: Typically used in high-pressure or high-temperature operations

Socket Welded: Commonly used on small bore piping where threaded

connections are not permitted

Wafer and Lug: Often used for compact valves installed in systems with limited
space

VALVE MATERIALS: ENSURING SAFETY AND LONG-

LASTING PERFORMANCE
Depending on your intended use, the materials with which your valves are made
might be a critical aspect in ensuring safe operation and reducing maintenance and
replacement costs over the life of your operation.

Stainless steel valves are excellent options in a range of processing environments,

including those involving corrosive media (such as chemicals, saltwater, and acids),
environments with strict sanitation standards (such as food and beverage
manufacturing and pharmaceuticals), and processes involving high pressure or high
temperatures.

However, if you are processing solvents, fuels, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs),
choosing a valve material from a non-sparking material — such as brass, bronze,
copper, or even plastic — is often a better option. In addition to selecting the correct
body material, internal (wetted) trim parts should be evaluated for chemical
compatibility as well. If your valve contains elastomers, they should also be evaluated
for their chemical compatibility as well as pressure and temperature limitations.
 VALVE STANDARDS: MEETING COMPLIANCE AND
REGULATORY CONCERNS
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Depending on your intended usage, you might find that valves must adhere to
particular standards to meet regulatory requirements for safety, sanitation, or other
concerns.

While there are too many standard organizations and potential regulations to cover in
detail, common general standard organizations include:

CSA Group (https://www.csagroup.org/) (CSA)

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers

(https://www.ihs.com/products/asme-standards.html) (ASME)

The American National Standards Institute (https://www.ihs.com/products/ansi-

standards.html) (ANSI)

The American Society for Testing Materials International

(https://www.ihs.com/products/astm-standards.html) (ASTM International)

The Manufacturers Standardization Society (https://www.ihs.com/products/mss-

standards.html) (MSS)

The International Organization for Standardization

(https://www.ihs.com/products/iso-standards.html) (ISO)

The Public Health and Safety Organization (https://www.nsf.org/) (NSF)

NACE International (https://www.nace.org/home) (NACE)

The American Petroleum Institute (https://www.ihs.com/products/api-

standards.html) (API)

American Water Works Association (https://www.awwa.org/) (AWWA)

There are also industry-specific standards to consider.

Major standards organizations by industry include:

ASHRAE Valve Standards

 ASME BPVC Valve Standards

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ASSE Valve Standards

ISA Valve Standards

NFPA Valve Standards

SAE Valve Standards

FINAL THOUGHTS
Choosing the right valve for your project might seem complex. However, by starting
with general characteristics — such as valve design, valve size and actuation method —
you can quickly limit your options to determine the best valves for your needs
(/products/valves/).

Whether you’re designing a new processing system or looking to make upgrades to or

maintain an existing system, Unified Alloys’ selection of valves (/products/valves/) and
fittings (/products/pipe-fittings/) can help you find the ideal solution for your application
and usage environment. As a leading provider of stainless steel alloys, valves, flanges, and
more, our experts have helped industries across Canada and North America for more than
4 decades. Need assistance or have a question? Contact us (/contact/) for personalized
help.

The contents provide general information about the products and services we supply. Process Piping system design should only be
undertaken by independent professionals. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information in our brochures, we
make no representations warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content of this brochure is the most
accurate, complete or up-to-date version and consequently to the fullest extent permitted by law, errors and omissions are
excepted. This brochure was originally written in the English language and, in the event of any conflict, inconsistency or
discrepancy between the English language version and any translation the English language version shall apply.

NEED HELP? REQUEST A QUOTE?

Get in touch with one of our Technical Sales Representatives to
 request a quote or get answers to any questions you may have.

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