Valving has been an integral aspect of chemical processes since the start. The first modern valve dates to the early 1700s during the industrial revolutionwhen the first valve was invented and used on a high-pressure steam machine. Over the years a variety of valves have been developed and deployed to isolate, control and route industrial processes. Three valves still widely used in the modern-day age of manufacturing are:
- Ball Valves
- Butterfly Valve
- Globe Valve
Ball Valve
The ball valve’s main function is to shut off or isolate a liquid or gas process via a rotating bored through ball. Ball valves are known for the reliability and long service life.
Ball valves are the most common type of fluid shutoff valve
Butterfly Valve
The butterfly valve is similar in nature to the ball valve as it was developed for isolation purposes. Instead of utilizing a rotating bored through ball like the ball valve, the butterfly valve employs a rotating disc that turns 90 degrees from the on-off positions.
Butterfly valves are known for their lighter weights and lower costs compared to other valves.
Globe Valve
The globe valve differs greatly from the butterfly and ball valves as its main purpose is to regulate liquid or gas flow. The downside to these valves is the large pressure drop across this more sophisticated type of valve.
Globe valves are easier to understand when you can see the internal components