Valves are the devices used to control, start or shut off the flow of fluid in pipelines or any system. These valves include gate valve, globe valve, ball valve, and many more. The check valve is one of the very first valves that were introduced. They have many applications in industrial, agricultural as well as residential sales. With their simple structures, they are easy to handle.
Valves in pipelines regulate liquid or gas flow. Some allow water to pass through them in liquid form. Some will enable the steam flow. Thus, those pipelines are steam pipelines.
The valves used on steam pipelines are steam line valves or steam valves. It depicts their function as the valves regulating the steam flow in the channels. The function is the same as that of any other valve. Steam valves regulate and control the steam flow and its pressure in the pipelines. They are also responsible for adjusting the temperature. Steam pipelines have a significant role in industries and residents.
Now, as we are familiar with steam pipelines and steam valves. Let us get to the main topic of our article, and that is what the valves used on steam pipelines?
The valves that used in steam pipelines are as follows:
- Globe valve
- Gate valve
- Slide valve
- Diaphragm valve
- Plug valve
- Butterfly valve
- Ball valve
Globe valve
Globe valves are sphere-shaped valves that belong to the category of control valves. There is a baffle present inside the glob valve, which divides it into two halves. Hence it is a two-port valve. There is a difference between globe valve functions and ball valve functions. They have differences because of the interior. Globe valves are used to regulate the opening and shutting off of the flow of liquid. Moreover, they can also use to balance the pressure level in pipelines.
Globe valves are used as steam valves because of their structure. These valves do not leak because of their making. Hence they are preferred over gate valves. Globe valves are used in applications that are concerned with high pressure. They are also concerned with high-volume conditions.
Now let us have a quick overview of how globe valves work. They can be operated by setting their conditions. Engineers can also do this manually. A disk closes the seat of the globe valve, which is located in the middle of the valve. When we turn the handle, the valve stem will either raise or depress the disk. In case of depression, the flow is shut off, and in case of rising, the flow is allowed. An actuator is used chiefly to turn the handle.
Gate valve
Sluice valve is another name of gate valve. As the name shows, the gate valve is the one that has a barrier that acts as a gate. They allow the flow when the gate is opened. Just like other valves, they have the function of shutting off or opening the passageway. So that the fluid can easily flow. Know that whatever the situation is, they allow or restrict the flow completely. It means that they are used in case of a fully opened or closed valve. There are many differences between gate and globe valves. One of the significant differences is its installation direction. Globe valve is installed in one order only while gate valve can be installed in any direction.
To control the gate valves, there is a knob present at the top of the valve. As they allow or restrict complete flow, so they do not reduce any pressure. Hence, they let the fluid pass with its original pressure.
There are two types of gate valves:
- Parallel gate valve
- Wedge-shaped gate valve
The knife gate valve is the most popular type of gate valve that has a sharp edge.
Gate valves are used as steam valves as well. As these are only used to allow or restrict the flow fully. Gate valves are used to shut off or fully open the steam flow through pipelines. The membrane that is used to close the valve is made up of metal. The gate acts like a shutter. It will glide down to close the gate valve. Hence, gate valves are made up suitably to be used as steam valves for steam pipelines.
Slide valve
Slide valves function by their name having a sliding function. They open or shut off the flow path with sliding. They are constructed for the steam engines specifically. So we can say that they were initially made for steam. The function of the slide valve is to accept the steam in the cylinder. Not only is it concerned with admitting, but it also helps in releasing it.
Slide valves are used to increase the efficiency of steam engines. These slide valves can be used in steam pipelines as well. These are used as steam controllers. These valves are in charge of accepting and releasing the amount of steam. So, that must be admitted and exhausted.
Diaphragm valve
The diaphragm valve is also known as the membrane valve. These valves have two functional sides; hence they are two-directional valves. They are the type of control valves. Their function is to balance and control the flow of the material in the system. They do so by changing the conditions of velocity and speed of the fluid. Or any material passing through the system. These valves are opened by raising the level of the diaphragm through pressure application. Diaphragm valves are used when the property of speed and velocity is the concerned case.
These valves have used in steam pipelines as well. Their work is to regulate the steam flow in channels. With the help of actuators, they apply pressure to raise the diaphragm and hence open the valve. Thus, this is how they let the steam flow. For your information, the diaphragm valve is like the pinch valve. Both are similar in their design and, , their functionality.
Plug valve
Plug valves are valves that have plugs inside to balance the flow. They are either cylindrical or conical in shape. Their primary function is to stop and start the flow through the system. These valves are pretty helpful as they offer many functions. For example, they propose throttling services. These plug valves are primarily compared with ball valves. Ball valves can allow either complete or reduced flow. On the other hand, plug valves only allow the entire flow. It means they are full port valves.
They are used as steam valves as well in steam pipelines. Their function is the same. These valves are used to allow or stop the slow steam in the channels. Plug valves can also be used as control valves to increase or decrease the flow rate.
Butterfly valve
Butterfly valves are the type of quarter-turn valves. When the disc twists to a quarter turn, the valve opens or closes completely. It allows or restricts the whole flow of the substance flowing through them. The term butterfly is referred to the disc made of metal that is placed on a rod. Hence with the turning of the disc, the valve can be opened and closed completely.
A butterfly valve is used to start and stop the flow. These valves have many applications on many levels. Butterfly valves can be used as steam valves in steam pipelines. They open or close the passage of steam or control the pressure of the steam or vapors.
Butterfly valves are often compared with gate valves. There is a difference between gate valves and butterfly valves in their operation. The gate of the gate valve is not fixed, while in the case of the butterfly valve, the entrance is fixed. Know that both valves have a similar function, i.e., to block or allow the flow.
Ball valve
Just like its name, ball valves use a ball for their operation. The ball being used is hollow and pivoted. It is also called a shut-off valve. Its function is that of a control valve. Hence it balances the flow of liquid or gas in the system that is primarily pipelines. The ball used inside it is made up of metal with a hole in the middle. Ball valves have their applications in gas throttling.
These valves can be used as steam valves as well. It means that ball valves can be used in steam pipelines for regulating the flow of steam in the pipelines.
Ball vales are compared with butterfly valves. They have enhanced regulation for the flow of liquid or gas as compared to butterfly valves.
Ball valves are of three classes. Rubber-lined ball valves, metal ball valves, and plastic-lined ball valves. They are used in industries and residential appliances.
Conclusion
For information on steam valves, then this article is for you. This article went through the basic terminologies of valves, and steam valves. Then we moved to our main topic that was the steam valves. We explained the seven main steam valves used in steam pipelines. Their working and capabilities are also discussed in short. We hope you find this article knowledgeable and informative.
