VALVE

A valve is a device that regulates, directs or controls the flow of a fluid (gases, liquids,
fluidized solids, or slurries) by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various
passageways. Valves are technically valves fittings, but are usually discussed as a
separate category. In an open valve, fluid flows in a direction from higher pressure to
lower pressure. The word is derived from the Latin valva, the moving part of a door, in
turn from volvere, to turn, roll.
The simplest, and very ancient, valve is simply a freely hinged flap which drops to
obstruct fluid (gas or liquid) flow in one direction, but is pushed open by flow in the
opposite direction. This is called a check valve, as it prevents or "checks" the flow in one
direction.
Valves have many uses, including controlling water for Irrigation, industrial uses for
controlling processes, residential uses such as on / off & pressure control to dish and
clothes washers & taps in the home. Even aerosols have a tiny valve built in. Valves are
also used in the military & transport sectors.
Valves are found in virtually every industrial process, including water & sewage
processing, mining, power generation, processing of oil, gas & petroleum, food
manufacturing, chemical & plastic manufacturing and many other fields.
People in developed nations use valves in their daily lives, including plumbing valves,
such as taps for tap water, gas control valves on cookers, small valves fitted to washing
machines and dishwashers, safety devices fitted tohot water systems, and poppet
valves in car engines.
In nature there are valves, for example one-way valves in veins controlling the blood
circulation, & heart valvescontrolling the flow of blood in the chambers of the heart and
maintaining the correct pumping action.
Valves may be operated manually, either by a handle, lever, pedal or wheel. Valves may
also be automatic, driven by changes in pressure, temperature, or flow. These changes
may act upon a diaphragm or a piston which in turn activates the valve, examples of this
type of valve found commonly are safety valves fitted to hot water systems or boilers.
More complex control systems using valves requiring automatic control based on an
external input (i.e., regulating flow through a pipe to a changing set point) require
an actuator. An actuator will stroke the valve depending on its input and set-up, allowing
the valve to be positioned accurately, and allowing control over a variety of
requirements.

Valve types
Valves can be categorized into the following basic

Ball valve, for on/off control without pressure drop, and ideal for quick shut-off, since a 90 turn offers complete shut-off angle, compared to
multiple turns required on most manual valves.

Butterfly valve, for flow regulation in large pipe diameters.

Ceramic Disc valve, used mainly in high duty cycle applications or on abrasive fluids. Ceramic disc can also provide Class IV seat leakage

Check valve or non-return valve, allows the fluid to pass in one direction only.

Choke valve, a valve that raises or lowers a solid cylinder which is placed around or inside another cylinder which has holes or slots. Used for
high pressure drops found in oil and gas wellheads.

Diaphragm valve, which controls flow by a movement of a diaphragm. Upstream pressure, downstream pressure, or an external source (e.g.,
pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.) can be used to change the position of the diaphragm.

Gate valve, mainly for on/off control, with low pressure drop.

Globe valve, good for regulating flow.

Knife valve, similar to a gate valve, but usually more compact. Often used for slurries or powders on/off control.

Needle valve for accurate flow control.

Pinch valve, for slurry flow regulation and control.

Piston valve, for regulating fluids that carry solids in suspension.

Plug valve, slim valve for on/off control but with some pressure drop.

Poppet valve, commonly used in piston engines to regulate the fuel mixture intake and exhaust

Spool valve, for hydraulic control

Thermal expansion valve, used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems.

Pressure Reducing Valve

Sampling valves

Safety valve