The pros and cons of three types of industrial valve

Industrial valves are those that are specifically designed for use in industrial applications rather than domestic or commercial ones.

The global market for industrial valves is surprisingly large and is expected to reach $110.5bn by 2031.

There are three types that are commonly found in industrial settings: gate valves, butterfly valves, and ball valves.

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Gate valves

Gate valves are found in many industrial settings. Closing the valve drops the gate so there is no flow, whilst opening the valve raises the gate and allows the liquid or gas to flow freely.

The advantages of gate valves are that they are simple yet effective for on/off applications, they have minimal fluid resistance, they are highly versatile, and they are bidirectional.

The main disadvantages are that they have a long opening and closing time, and they can be prone to scratches.

Butterfly valves

Butterfly valves consist of a metal disc clasped on a rod. As the valve is shut, the disc rotates so as to completely block the passageway. When the valve is totally open, the disc is turned and provides an unrestricted flow.

The advantages of these are that they can accurately control flow, they are maintenance friendly and easy to repair, they achieve good sealing, and they are lightweight.

The main disadvantages of butterfly valves are that they are susceptible to clogging, are not suitable for high-pressure environments, and have shorter lifespans than other types.

Specialist valve manufacturers

There are a number of firms that specialise in making different types of valves for industrial use. Many of these have significant online resources available for perusal, such as the examples seen at https://orseal.com.

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Ball valves

Ball valves are similar to gate valves, but they use a ball rather than a gate to block the flow. The advantages of these are that they are able to accurately control fluid flow and can also provide a very tight closing.

The disadvantages of ball valves are that they are not suitable for reduced pressure operations, they have poor throttling characteristics, and they can be prone to leaks.