Stainless steel valves

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What Is a Stainless Steel Valve?

Stainless steel valves are revered for their ability to withstand chemical exposure, high pressure, and harsh temperatures. Pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and power generation industries prefer stainless steel valves in their operations as they boast on their revered durability, versatility, and strength.

By opening, partially obstructing, or closing various passageways, stainless steel valves are used to regulate, direct, and control the flow of fluid, such as gases, slurries, liquids, or fluidized solids. Stainless steel valves are commonly used in irrigation, military and transport sectors, residential purposes, and processes for industries.

Compared to valves of other materials, stainless steel valves are the ideal choice for applications that require corrosion resistance. Stainless steel valves have a hydraulic system that prevents leakage. Leakage can be dangerous, especially when working with chemicals or toxins. With the compatibility to extreme temperatures and resistance to high pressures, stainless steel valves last for a very long time.

SIO Stainless Steel Valves are made to meet the needs of every customer. SIO Stainless steel valves can endure harsh temperature, high pressure, and exposure to various chemicals. They are effective options for applications involving water and loads of other types of materials. Stainless steel valves might be a bit more expensive than valves of other materials, but the strength and resilience of these valves are not comprised, and the price is justified as they are able to withstand extreme and harsh environmental conditions.

Manufactured from the highest quality materials, SIO stainless steels valves do not only have a longer lifespan. They also have very high resistance to leakage, making them an excellent choice for demanding applications that are exposed to high amounts of temperature and pressure.

What Are the Common Types of Stainless Steel Valves?

1. Ball Valve

Stainless steel ball valves control the fluid flow from one opening to the next by using a ball, which has a port in the center called the bore. These valves can either be manual or automatic. Stainless steel ball valves are easy to open and close. As the valve opens, the bore aligns with the pipeline opening, allowing the fluid to pass through the valve. When the valve is closed, the bore seats in the pipeline opening in a perpendicular position to block the fluid flow to pass through.

Stainless steel ball valves are considered as full bore quarter turn valves since they are operated at a 90-degree rotation in opening and closing the valve. With the quarter turn motion, stainless steel ball valves are quick-acting which minimizes the valve operation time and reduces wear and tear. However, there are some instances that a 360-degree rotation is more suitable in the applications.

Stainless steel ball valves require less effort in operating, as these valves can be opened and closed quickly. They are very durable and robust valves as they have high resistance to leakage, which is needed for gas and pipeline applications where tight shutoff is necessary. Because they have tolerance with extreme pressures and harsh temperatures, stainless steel valves are ideal choices for oil, transmission and storage, pharmaceutical, and chemical processes. These valves can also be found in chlorine manufacturers, flowing systems on ships, and fire safety protection services.

2. Butterfly Valve

Stainless steel butterfly valves are used to regulate and isolate the flow of fluids by using the disk positioned in the center of the pipe. Butterfly valves require less support to provide a quick shutoff just like ball valves. To do so, the rod that passes through the disk is connected to an actuator which is located outside the pipe.

By rotating the disk, stainless steel butterfly valves can regulate, start, and stop the flow of fluid. When the valve is open, the disk is perpendicularly aligned to the fluid flow. If the valve is closed, the disk blocks the pipeline opening completely. Regardless of what the position of the valve is, the presence of the disk in the flow causes a pressure drop.

Through a quarter rotation, stainless steel butterfly valves can be opened easily. The 90-degree turn permits a perpendicular position and an unrestricted path, while incremental throttle flow will be specified as soon as the closed position has been reached completely.

Stainless steel butterfly valves are known to be compact, yet they have remarkable tolerance to harsh temperatures and corrosion. They are widely used in power generation systems, wastewater treatment, gas supply and fire protection, petrochemical processing, fuel handling systems, and oil industries.

3. Globe Valve

Stainless steel globe valves are high performance valves that are used to start, stop, and regulate the flow of the fluid, especially in demanding applications that involve high levels of temperature and pressure.

Globe valves are commonly known for their on and off applications in the process industry. These valves also boast in their precise throttling ability because there is a gradual change that occurs in the spacing of the seat and disk. The space mentioned permits the fluid to flow through the valve. As the fluid passes through, there is a shift in the direction of the flow which causes an increase in the pressure within the valve. Unlike other types of valves, pressure drop is higher in stainless steel globe valves.

Stainless steel globe valves reduce leakage since a tight seal is maintained when the valves are closed. The stem is in a vertical position as the valve closes since stainless valves are usually placed to the fluid stream which connects to the pipe side that is located above the disk.

When the globe valves are opened, the fluid passes through the space between the edge of the disk and the seat. The rate of fluid that flows through the valve is determined by the distance of the plug and the seat.

Stainless steel globe valves are ideally chosen for applications where leak tightness and flow regulation are required, such as high-point vents and low-point drains. Because these valves are corrosion-resistant and can withstand extreme temperature and pressure conditions, they are typically used in feedwater, turbine seals, fuel oil systems, extraction drain systems, cooling water systems, and condenser air extractions.

4. Gate Valve

Stainless steel gate valves are designed for on and off services. They control the flow of the fluid, especially for applications that require extreme tolerance for harsh temperature and high pressure conditions such as process plants.

Stainless steel gate valves are commonly used when the operations in systems require a straight line fluid flow and minimum flow restriction. Generally, gate valves can either be fully open or closed. These valves are structured to minimize pressure drop throughout the valve when it is open and to block the flow completely.

When the stainless steel gate valves are opened, the disk is removed from the flow which means there is no resistance to the flow virtually. The direction of the fluid flow and the diameter where the fluid passes through do not change, which allows a minimal pressure drop once the valves are fully opened.

With their ability to withstand chemical exposure, stainless steel gate valves are used by automotive, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and marine industries. These valves have high resistance to wear, which allow stainless steel gate valves to handle liquids with high viscosity accurately, such as light grease and heavy oils.

Source: Indiamart

Source: Toboa Energy

5. Check Valve

Stainless steel check valves are commonly used in numerous demanding industrial processes that require high tolerance on harsh temperatures and high pressure levels. They block the flow of liquid in one direction and allows free flow in the opposite direction, which prevents backflow in a piping system.

To properly operate, they have a specified cracking pressure upon using. These valves are self-automated, which means that they do not require assistance as they open or close. Compared to other valves, stainless steel check valves continuously runs even if the plant facility loses electricity, air, or if the person handling them have manually cycled the operation.

Stainless steel check valves depend on the fluid to open and close as they are flow-sensitive. When the valve is open, the disc allows the flow of the fluid to pass through the valve. On the other hand, the disk reverses the direction of the flow or decreases the pressure of the flow when the valve begins to close.

Stainless steel check valves are commonly used in fluid systems in chemical plants, streamlines, home heating systems, nitrogen purge lines, pressure pumps, and aerospace processes.

6. Relief Valve

Stainless steel relief valves are primarily fashioned to set a specific level of pressure as they open and allow fluid to pass through and relieve the system once the pressure has exceeded the desired level to avoid damage or failure in the system. Knowing how resistant stainless steel relief valves are with extreme pressure conditions, these valves are widely used to control or specify a limit on the pressure levels of a system.

In operation, stainless steel relief valves are usually closed until the pressure reaches the preset level that has been specified. The valve immediately opens once the set pressure has been reached, and it will continue to open as pressure increases, allowing more flow to pass through the valve. Once the upstream pressure drops below the desired level of pressure, the valve will close again.

Stainless steel relief valves are an ideal choice in industries where corrosive fluids are used, especially when the cleanliness of the fluid should be considered, or when the temperature for the operation is high. These valves are commonly used in fluid distribution systems such as hydraulic power systems and high-pressure gas systems.

Source: Van Isle Water

Source: Leen Gate Valves

7. Needle Valve

With its outstanding tolerance in harsh temperature and pressure conditions, stainless steel needle valves help in keeping the efficiency and safety of industrial machinery operations, just like most types of valves. Similarly to shutoff valves, needle valves control the flow rate of the fluid that passes through the pipeline.

Stainless needle valves are designed differently from shutoff valves. Needle valves have a needle-like, long, tapered point located at the end of the valve stem called a plunger, which is controlled by a small handle in the valve. Stainless steel needle valves are designed to accurately and precisely control the fluid flow in the valve.

8. Diaphragm Valve

Stainless steel diaphragm valves are bi-directional valves which use a linear motion to regulate the flow of fluid. These valves have fluid passages that are streamlined and smooth, which are in minimizing the pressure drop in the valve. Corrosion of the operating mechanism and contamination of fluids are avoided since the fluid stream is separated from the valve. Stainless steel diaphragm valves have high resistance to leakage, which means that the valve stem has no leak path.

Stainless steel diaphragm valves use a flexible diaphragm that is connected to a compressor by a stud molded into the diaphragm. The diaphragm is pushed to have contact with the bottom of the valve to have a proper shut-off. To increase or start the flow, the valve stem moves the compressor upward. For the flow to slow down or stop, the diaphragm is pushed to the bottom of the valve and the compressor is lowered down.

Stainless steel diaphragm valves, with its high tolerance in extreme environmental conditions, are a great option in fluid flow control, especially if suspended solids are present. These type of valves can also be installed in any position.

Source: Indiamart

Stainless steel diaphragm valves have minimum contact to surfaces and are least likely to be the source of contamination. Thus, they are widely used in food processing, water treatment, pulp and paper, power generation, and pharmaceutical industries.

What Are the Applications?

1. Petroleum Refining

The entire process of converting crude oil into usable products is too complicated and demanding that only stainless steel valves can handle. Petroleum is a highly corrosive fluid as it is composed of carbon dioxide, sulfur, water, and all kinds of microorganisms. Over time, crude oil will break down metal, so looking for pipes and valves that can withstand this substance for a long time is a must. Stainless steel valves have the temperature tolerance and pressure rating this whole process needs. Thus, these valves are an excellent choice for the oil and gas industries.

2. Seawater Environments

Several applications take place near or in seawater. A typical example is desalination. The marine habitat, a corrosive environment is harmful to all types of materials, especially metals since water is a massive part of this application.

When seawater environments are involved, a lot of people use plastic valves as they have better resistance to chemicals and water than other metals. However, plastic valves cannot withstand extreme temperatures and high levels of pressure. Stainless steel valves, on the other hand, handle these conditions with ease. These types of valves, if given proper maintenance, can last for a long time around seawater.

3. Brewing Systems

One of the industries that utilizes stainless steel valves is breweries. Usually located at the kettle, stainless steel valves enables the user to take control of the flow of the liquid during transfers. The stainless steel material is required in this industry because the valves have a direct contact with wort. Wort is the end-product during the extraction of the mashing process the whiskey or beer is brewed. It is a corrosive liquid that would wear down valves made of iron. Plastic valves will not be able to withstand the harsh temperatures of brewing systems, so stainless steel valves are the excellent choice.

4. Pulp and Paper Industry

In pulp and paper applications, valves used should have high control accuracy and reliable mechanical performance that allow plants to run efficiently to avoid running costs. With the pressure rating, chemical compatibility, scale tendency, temperature range, and consistency required, stainless steel valves are recommended in this type of application.

Nearly every manufacturing process utilizes water in the pulp and paper industry. Given this, the facilities in this application produce large volumes of sludge and wastewater, which can cause many issues on waste disposal, water treatment, and discharge. Stainless steel valves, such as check valves, alleviate these issues by isolating the flow of fluid in systems using different kinds of fluids and preventing reverse flow.

What are the Common Uses of Stainless Steel Valves?

1. Pressure Relief Valve

Pressure relief valves are often used in hydraulic systems to set a limit on the system pressure at a certain level. If the standard level has been reached, the pressure relief valve controls the excess flow from the system going back to the tank. These valves are considered safety devices that are utilized by different kinds of machines. Because of its pressure regulation, pressure relief valves prevent the equipment from being damaged and avoid serious hazards to occur in the operations.

Aside from hydraulic systems, pressure relief valves are used in chemical processing and refining systems, as well as petrochemical and power generation industries.

2. Drain Valve

With its resistance to corrosion, a stainless steel valve is used as a drain valve since it deals with water in the compression chamber, which may cause problems such as rust and corrosion. If left unattended, the sidewall of the air receiver will be corroded. If excessive water is present, the air dryer of the compressor might not function properly as it becomes overloaded.

Too much water may lead to moisture downstream, which can damage the tools and other air-operated equipment. To prevent this, air compressors should have drain valves. A drain valve is used for cleaning, emptying, or scouring the main storage tank. The valve is located at the bottom of the air receiver since it allows the water to be drained or to flow out of the system.

3. High-Performance Butterfly Valve

High performance butterfly valves are used for throttling control and shut-off. These valves have two offsets from the center, which is responsible for the cam action in the application process. High performance butterfly valves are also popularly known as double offset butterfly valves as they can be implemented safely to higher pressure systems. These valves regulate fluids in the substances so that they flow in a particular direction at a specific volume.

High performance butterfly valves are primarily designed to accommodate general applications to systems with corrosive fluids, steam, and viscous liquids involved, such as power generation, chemical, pulp and paper, and oil and gas industries.

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Stainless Steel Valves

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