Valve Types

Industrial Valve Types and Features

Industrial valves, used to direct, stop, and control the flow and pressure of fluids in pipelines, are critical for the safety and efficiency of your processes. Today's advanced valve systems are designed to operate with a zero-leakage guarantee under high temperatures, corrosive chemicals, and high pressure (PN/Class). You can examine the most suitable valve types for your facilities below based on the fluid type, system pressure, and control precision requirements.

Gate Valve

Gate valves belong to the multi-turn valve group, operating by completely opening or closing the fluid passage with a gate or disk sliding perpendicular to the flow direction. Since they create no obstruction in the flow path when fully open, the pressure drop is minimal. They are not suitable for precise flow control (throttling); they are designed to be used strictly in fully open or fully closed (on/off) positions.

• Standards: Heavy-duty cast or forged steel manufacturing for high-pressure lines in API 600-602 and ANSI norms.
• Advantages: Allows bi-directional flow, offers very low flow resistance due to its full-bore structure, and prevents water hammer effects.
• Applications: Hot water lines, petrochemical plants, fuel transfer lines, and compressed air systems.

Globe Valve

Globe valves, one of the most preferred valve types in piping systems, are highly durable against frequent opening-closing operations and can perform precise flow control. Although the pressure drop is higher due to the change in flow direction inside the body, their sealing performance is excellent. Sealing is achieved by the plug at the end of the valve stem seating onto the seat surface inside the body.

They are divided into three main groups based on their sealing and stem design:

• Standard Globe Valve: The classic type operating with a metal-to-metal sealing principle.
• Bellows Seal Globe Valve: Stem sealing is provided by a stainless steel bellows. It is mandatory in hot oil and steam lines where zero leakage risk is required.
• Piston Valve: Features a metal-elastic sealing structure, providing closure while simultaneously cleaning accumulated sediment in the line thanks to the radial pressure of the piston.

Globe Valve Applications: Hot oil and steam installations, boiler and turbine feed systems, cooling water, and chemical dosing lines.

Ball Valve

These are fast-acting, quarter-turn valves that operate on the principle of rotating a hollow ball inside by 90 degrees. The valve is fully open when the handle is parallel to the flow direction and fully closed when perpendicular. They are widely used in the industry due to their compact structure, excellent sealing properties, and low pressure drop.

• Advantages: Very fast opening-closing capability, full sealing thanks to PTFE/Teflon seats, and a lightweight, space-saving design.
• Applications: Natural gas lines (EN 331 standards), heating-cooling (HVAC) systems, paper, chemical, and food factories, and the shipbuilding industry.

Butterfly Valve

Butterfly valves are quarter-turn valves that control or stop the flow by means of a disk (butterfly) rotating around a central stem. Their biggest advantages are that they take up very little space in the pipeline and remain lightweight and economical even in large diameters. They can be used for both on/off applications and proportional flow control. There are two main body types: Wafer (sandwiched between flanges) and Lug (with its own threaded bolt holes).

• Applications: Treatment plants, water and wastewater lines, fire extinguishing systems, power stations, compressor and air conditioning plants, and gas/exhaust lines.

Check Valve (Non-Return Valve)

Check valves are safety armatures that allow the fluid in the pipeline to move in only one direction, automatically preventing reverse flow. They open and close autonomously based on pressure changes (the pushing power of the fluid) in the system. They are critical for preventing pressure loss in hydraulic systems and avoiding water hammer in pump installations.

• Check Valve Types: Disco, Swing, Ball, Lift, Dual Plate, and Wafer type check valves.