What are the Different Types of Valves Used in Piping Systems

A valve is a mechanical device, which is used in the piping systems in order to control, direct, isolate, mix or regulate the flow or pressure of the water. This can be achieved by modifying the pathway through the pipe. When a valve is in an open position, the pathway is unobstructed and the liquid flows in a direction from higher pressure to lower pressure. On the other hand, if the valve is partially or fully closed, it obstructs the pathway, and the flow can be reduced or completely stopped.

Valve blockage is one of the major problems in plumbing. This can be caused due to the high mineral content in the water and these mineral deposits accumulate inside the body of the valve, which reduces the flow of the water. In this case, a Brampton plumber can resolve this issue by disassembling and cleaning out the valves.

Valves play a major role in the plumbing industry by increasing efficiency, improving quality control, and ensuring the safety and reliability of the process. The following are the different types of valves used in piping systems.

Gate Valve:

A gate valve is one of the common types of valve used in the plumbing system. It includes a wedge-shaped metal gate that can be lowered to stop the flow of water or raised to allow the floe to continue. This type of valve will not control the water flow as they are designed to be fully opened or fully closed. Gate valves provide excellent shutoff, so it is used for the circulation of all types of fluids such as air, fuel gas, water, steam, lube oil, hydrocarbons, etc.

Globe Valve:

This type of valve is used to regulate or limit the flow of water in plumbing applications, where the flow needs to be adjusted regularly. The design of this valve contains a stopper on the end of the valve stem that can be raised or lowered by the valve’s twist knob. Globe valves are easy to maintain and have effective throttling and shutoff abilities. They are used in places where the flow needs to be adjusted regularly and need not be fully open.

Butterfly Valve:

The butterfly valve has a rotating disc that allows and inhibits the flow of water, creating an image similar to that of a butterfly. They are very compact in size, light, and short, which makes them significantly lighter than the other valve types. Flanged ends, wafer-type ends, double offset, triple offset, and lug-type ends are some of the different types of butterfly valves used in the plumbing processes.

Ball Valves:

Ball valves are the common type of valves used in regulating the water flow. This type of valve is having a rotating sphere with a hole, which is attached to a lever handle to operate the valve. They provide a perfect seal when it is in the closed position, and they are smaller and lighter than gate valves of the same size. Some of the types of ball valves are 3-way ball valves, floating ball valves, trunnion-mounted ball valves, etc.

Conclusion:

Valves are the major component in the plumbing system, which are used to direct the flow, shut off the access, prevent backflows, and adjust the water pressure. From the above, you can get a piece of detailed knowledge about the types of valves used in the piping system.