Any mechanism or network of pipes that will control the flow and alter the pressure of any type of liquids, whether it’s water, oils, or even gas, needs the support of certain kinds of valves. The intricate network of modern-day pimping can be even visualized without the involvement of valves. This article will give a brief about some of the most effective valves that can be used in the oil and gas industry:-
1. ARV or ARC valves
These types of valves, which stand for ‘Automatic Recirculation Valve’, have a wide range of functions and are widely used among various oil and gas manufacturing plants. Their main goal is to ensure that a previous set pressure and volume of the flow of the liquid or gas should be maintained throughout the transportation process of the materials.
Because centrifugal pumps are prone to overheating, it’s critical to maintain the flow to a bare minimum; otherwise, dry valves might lead to irreversible damage.
2. Ball Valve
A ball valve can be referred to as a certain kind of rotary valve which controls flow by moving the ball-shaped disk inside the valve body. When the inlet of the valve is left open, it allows the passing bose inside the ball-shaped discs to line up, through which the liquid or the glass is passed.
The balls are often composed of a variety of metals, while the seats are typically constructed of comparatively lighter materials such as Teflon. The body of the ball valve consists of a combination of specific materials which allows it to function at extreme temperatures, which can be as low as -200°C and as hot as 500°C.
These ball-shaped valves, which are commonly used for the passage of air, fluid or gasses, can be open and closed very efficiently. Moreover, their disc features a pretty tight seal with minimal torque. The only disadvantage of these types of valves is the lack of throttling capabilities.
3. Bellow Sealed Kinds of Valves
The forged and welded variants of bellows are the two most common forms. Forged bellows are typically produced using a foil wall with very little thickness. Then these valves are fused with the tubes longitudinally by the process of welding.
The welders have to carefully attach these plates with this slick metal along the sides of its outer as well as inner circumferences to produce the welded variants. These are placed to allow these valves to control the pressure of the material inside the valve.
The materials used in the valve are also crucial since they impact how long the valve will last. Many people prefer aluminum valves because they are more durable. If you’re looking for aluminum valves, contact an activated alumina supplier.
4. Breather Valves
Breather valves have developed another common name for themselves: vacuum relief valves. This is because they are a certain kind of relief valve which can be used to protect tanks. These types of valve valves prevent the system from becoming unbalanced or damaging the storage vessel by preventing the buildup of excessive pressure or vacuum.
The plates placed inside these valves are commonly used to control or alter the fluctuation in the volume and pressure of the liquid or gas passing through this valve. They are quite renowned for effectively handling the high pressure of the material passing through them.
5. Butterfly Valves
Butterfly valves are a type of quarter-turn valve with a unique design. An obstructor, which is disc-shaped and located in the center of the valve, is used in this type of valve. These valves are suitable for a variety of applications and can handle medium to low liquid volumes.
They’re mainly found in complicated domestic pipe systems. By turning it ninety degrees, the rotational motion of the disc-shaped obstructor controls the flow of the liquid. In comparison to other quarter-turn pipes, the inner section of a butterfly pipe is much narrower. These are excellent valves for oil and gas.
On and off switches are commonly used to control them. Because these valves are used in industries, they must cope with a large amount of electricity, so a vacuum circuit breaker should be installed in your switches. Make sure to contact vacuum contactors to get yourself a vacuum circuit breaker.
6. Globe Valves
Globe valves are a type of rising stem valve that is excellent for medium to large liquid volumes. As the name implies, these valves have a globe-shaped body and are usually equipped with a disc-shaped stopper.
The movement of the stopper controls the flow of the liquid. The liquid first enters the lowest part of the globe-shaped body, then moves up to the upper part before exiting through the outlet. They’re even employed as three-way valves in some factories, with two liquid admissions and one liquid outflow.
7. Gate Valves
Gate valves are mainly used to initiate or obstruct the pressure of the flowing liquid or gas. This type of valve can be ideal when you are required to have a minimal restriction against the flowing liquid.
These valves are almost always preferred totally open or totally closed while functioning.
According to its mechanism, the obstructing disc is fully removed when you have to open the valve. Similarly, the obstructing disc is fully closed whenever the flow of the liquid needs to be obstructed.
These types of valves can be used as two way valves. However, one shortcoming of this valve is that the disc’s opening and closing movements are not as fast compared to a butterfly valve.
Final Thoughts
Valves have long been an important part of our industries’ and households’ complex plumbing systems. The plumbing system as we know it would be impossible without them. Each valve is made to order and has diverse applications based on the internal structure and mechanism of its components.
As a result, check over the types of valves presented in this article and choose the valve that best meets your needs.
