Demand and supply for industrial valves are anticipated to increase many folds. Industrial valves foresee applications in commercial construction projects as well as automation projects. Owing to aggressive industrialization and the expansion and sophistication of industrial plants worldwide, the industrial valve market has expanded.
The valves are designed to control the flow of gases, slurries as well as liquids using pipes and other passageways by opening, closing as well as partially obstructing the pipe. The valve contains a pneumatic device that works in converting the control signal generated from the controller before it takes specific regulatory action.
According to experts, a wide range of industries uses approximately 15% of the total cost for the materials and the mechanized equipment in purchasing high-quality industrial valves.
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Industrial valves can be categorized into various types such as Diaphragm valves, Globe valves, Gate valves, Pressure valves, Ball valves, Check valves, and Butterfly valves, etc. These types of valves have different functions and respective working principles.
Gate Valves
Gate valves are characteristically designed to serve as isolation valves in industries. They help in the regulation and flow of liquid (specifically that which is heated at high temperatures or cooled at drastically low temperatures) through pipes. Gate valves are often seen in domestic settings as well as in commercial centres and are made of different materials such as cast iron, stainless steel, forged steel, etc.
The material used is employed to ensure sturdiness, stability, and longevity to the valve as they get used to frequently halt or start the flow of liquids. Gate valves work by lifting a circular rectangular gate out of the fluid’s path. The strength and capacity of a gate valve are determined by the size of the bore diameter.
Gate valves have the advantage of being frictionless, the functionality of being used both ways in a circuit setting, and in saving energy that further reduces cost. Gate valves have a low laminar flow that ensures the noted pressure loss is minimum. As a disadvantage, gate valves cannot be opened and closed quickly. They may suffer high maintenance costs on leakages if the system they are working in has fluctuating temperatures.
Globe Valves
Globe valves are considered to be one of the most popular valves across a broad spectrum of industries. They find similarities with gate valves in regulating and controlling the linear flow of substances. Globe valves function by control the flow inside the pipe by positioning a movable plug inside an immovable ring. The Globe valve has a baffle that is split inside the pipe and runs parallel to the pipe’s length.
One of its major advantages is that it does not suffer leakages as much as any other type of valve. As the opening and closing time of the Globe valve is short, the body-ring surface process in the valve is relatively easier than in any other valve. The disadvantage of Globe valves is that the pressure loss in them is high and the force required to close the valve when it’s under high pressure is immense.
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Ball Valves
As per its name, the ball valve controls the flow of substances through a ball-like interference from one opening to the other. These valves regulate the liquid or gas by allowing the opening of the hole, or for it to be blocked, or be partially open. Ball Valves are also important in many industrial applications similar to Sealing, custom plastic extrusion, etc.
Ball valves are an ideal pick for industries that operate with gases, as ball valves provide foolproof sealing. They can also support high pressures and temperatures. As their sizes typically range from 0.5 centimeters to 30 centimeters and they possess a simple structure, ball valves are easy to operate and repair.
They have poor throttling characteristic that is identified both as an advantage as well as a disadvantage. The ball in the valve does not easily erode because of poor throttling and there is a smooth flow of particles. Ball valves open and close easily, and they have the flexibility of multi-way design.
Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valves have limited capabilities of regulating flow. They can be easily operated by rotating the valve by 90 degrees. The metal disc in the closed position is a crucial element in the valve as it is positioned perpendicular to the flow of the substances.
The regulation of the flow of the liquid is allowed through intermediate rotations. These types of valves are configured in order to be able to function electronically, pneumatically, and even manually. Butterfly valves find application in carburetors, and in hydroelectric plants where a high and powerful supply of water is needed.
Butterfly valves are advantageous for their characteristic accuracy, reliability and because they require low maintenance. Additionally, they can be installed or removed without dislocating the pipe.
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The industrial valves market is expected to grow due to an expansion of the oil and gas industries in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). Growth in the iron and carbon black industry is also augmenting the demand for pipes, subsequently increasing the demand for valves worldwide. Additionally, the high demand for predictive maintenance from manufacturing industries in developing nations of APAC is fueling the industrial valve industry.