A Guide to Different Types of Valves

Valves are tools that regulate the passage of liquids, gases, or loose materials through a pipe. Each of them has its own purpose. Some of them are good for fine adjustments others are better at shutting off flow.

5-Minute Crafts has prepared a guide to help you better understand each of them

1. Gate valve

This type of valve has a gate that stops or releases the media, but is not great for flow regulation. They are mainly used for big pipes because of their less complex design compared to other faucets. Also, there are automatic ones with electric or pneumatic actuators. However, the manual valves are much cheaper.

2. Ball valve

They have a rotating ball inside that is operated by turning their handle 90 degrees. These valves are reliable and robust even if left untouched for long periods of time. Mucky media won’t have any effect on their performance because they are more resistant than other types of faucets.

3. Butterfly valve

This one is very similar to a ball valve. But instead of a round mechanism inside, they have a rotating disc that controls the flow. They are best suited for modulating services and on-off situations. The butterfly faucet is popular due to its lightweight, quick operating, low cost, and availability in very large sizes.

4. Check valve

This device has 2 ports and allows flow from only one way. Their main use is to prevent backflow. They require higher pressure on the impute in order to work properly. The check valve doesn’t have a handle or lever and it’s used in places where you don’t want media to flow backward.

5. Solenoid valve

The solenoid valve is controlled by electricity. They have coils inside that open and close when a magnetic field is created and are commonly used for clean liquids and gases. This faucet can be found in vacuums, irrigation, compressed air, car washes, and heating systems.

6. Diaphragm valve

This valve, as its name suggests, has a flexible disk that touches the top of the faucet frame to form a seal. The diaphragm is an elastic, pressure-responsive component that passes on force to open, close, or control the valve. They are clean, leakproof, and easy to take care of.

7. Needle valve

A needle valve is mainly utilized for finely adjusting gas or liquid. The adjustments are gentle and even. Also, they can be used as shut-off faucets. These are best used for slow flow and have large pressure drops. There are 2 types, motorized and angle needle valves.

8. Three-Way Stop Valve

This valve has one inlet and 2 outlets. Most commonly found below the kitchen sink, it has multiple purposes such as supplying hot water to the tap and the dishwasher. They can be found in a couple of different designs: cross-shaped with 2 outlets, some have an “L” form vent, and others have a “Y” shape.