A Guide On Plumbing Valves and Fittings
Alt: Plumbing Valves
Valves and fittings play a critical role in every plumbing system. Controlling the flow of materials into and out of machinery and equipment is made easier by valves. They are therefore necessary for a wide range of tasks and applications. Particular types of valves may be put in the systems of some industries, with each valve in the system serving a different purpose. Today, we’ll offer a list of the various valve types and fittings, along with an explanation of each one’s purpose.
6 Main Types of Plumbing Valves
Below are the main types of plumbing valves commonly used:
1. Ball Valves
Alt: Ball valve
Ball valves are fast-acting valves with a quarter turn. To assist in the transfer of media flow through a piping system, they use a revolving ball. Additionally, they offer a tight shut-off characteristic, which increases their appeal and significance across a wide range of sectors. They are frequently used in the pipelines, petrochemical, power, and oil and gas industries, as well as in general any application that calls for fluid shut-off.
Ball valves exist in a variety of forms and have a variety of extras, which can be fascinating to consider. Additionally, several types of ball valves have found use in control applications because they are typically employed in on-and-off applications. Given all these aspects, it can be difficult to decide which type of ball valve is best for your application. Some are additionally utilized in household faucets to control the water flow for use in toilets and even kitchens.
2. Check valves
Alt: Check valves
A check valve is one of the valves that is most frequently employed in a lot of industrial applications. A check valve’s primary function is to stop the flow into the system from returning. A check valve’s self-automated operation is its main advantage.
Self-automated means that a check valve will continue to function even if a plant or building loses electricity. This valve’s mechanism guards against damage to other machinery, contamination, and other potential issues on the upstream line.
Check valves must be installed by an expert; otherwise, pipelines, pumps, and other machinery could fail to work efficiently. Fluids might also go into places where they shouldn’t. This might result in contamination and compromise the process medium’s overall integrity.
The flow process is essential for a check valve to work. The disc opens as the material flows through the process line in the desired direction. Depending on the valve’s design, a check valve’s disc may be a flap or a ball. Meanwhile, the check valve will instantly stop the flow if the flow reverses or lowers.
3. Butterfly valves
Alt: A butterfly valve
Butterfly valves are rotated every quarter in order to control, initiate, and terminate the flow of fluid. They can either completely stop the flow or limit it by just being partially open. The best butterfly valves for stopping and throttling operations are butterfly valves.
Butterfly valves are designed to control a fluid’s flow rate. The materials butterfly valves are built to affect the sort of fluid that passes through the pipes. These fluids may be caustic, medicinal, or chemically neutral. The sealing method on butterfly valves is ideal and appropriate for heating circuits.
4. Globe Valves
Alt: Globe Valves
A globe valve is a kind of linear-moving valve that is frequently used to initiate, stop, and regulate media flow. A globe valve received its name because of its spherical body, unlike other industrial valves, which are named after the shape of its discs. The majority of contemporary globe valves lack spherical bodies. However, they are nonetheless categorized as globe valves because of their comparable internal operation to a traditional globe valve.
5. Control Valves
Alt: Control valve
Control valves, commonly referred to as modulating valves, are devices that employ power to regulate the flow of media or the rate at which pressure is applied in a system. From the smallest flow to the maximum flow, it regulates the flow at different levels. A control valve responds to a signal from the control center to operate.
An actuator that has the ability to change the position of the valve’s closing mechanism is attached to a control valve. It regulates media flow by moving its disc in response to one or more openings within its body. The stem from which the valve disc is fastened is joined to an actuator.
Check out the video below to learn more how a control valve works.
6. Gate Valves
Alt: Gate valve
This type of control valve uses a disk-like gate to regulate the flow of fluid in a pipeline. It is the most common type of control valve found in most processing plants today. Gate valves are usually closed or fully opened when in use, while globe valves are usually fully closed. Gate valves do not work well with high velocities as their disks are removed when the valve fully opens, thus causing no resistance to the flow of liquid. However, we do not recommend gate valves for use with high velocities as their disks can be eroded and damaged.
10 Types of Plumbing Fittings You Need to Know
Alt: plumbing fittings
Plumbing fittings are equipment that connects different parts of your plumbing system to one another, allowing water to flow freely. They’re also known as fixtures and pipe fittings, and they come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and prices so you can find the perfect one to suit your budget and needs. Below are a few types of plumbing fittings.
1. Adaptor
Alt: Adaptor fittings
An adaptor is a fitting that allows you to connect two pipes that are not the same size. It is useful if you need to connect a smaller pipe to a larger one, or vice versa. There are many different types of adaptors, so be sure to choose the right one for your needs.
A threaded reducer can be used in both directions: to convert from a larger pipe to a smaller pipe, or from a smaller diameter pipe to a larger diameter one. A female-to-female coupler can also connect pipes of different diameters and is used in both directions as well.
2. Elbow
Alt: Elbow fittings
In piping, an elbow changes the direction of the flow. It is also used to connect two pieces of pipe together at an angle. Elbows are available in a variety of angles, such as 90 degrees, 45 degrees, and 180 degrees. They are also available in different materials, such as copper, brass, and plastic.
3. Tee
Alt: Tee fittings
A tee is a fitting that has three openings and looks like a T when viewed from the end. Tees are used to connect pipes that run in different directions. They can also be used to split a single pipe into two or smaller pipes. The T shape means that the water flows evenly through all branches of the pipe.
4. Nipple
Alt: Nipple fittings
Pipe nipples have male threads at both ends. It is used to connect two female-threaded pipes or fittings. Nipples are also used to extend a run of pipe. To install a nipple, you first need to cut the pipe to the desired length. Next, use a tape measure to find the center point of one end of the pipe. Make a small mark at this point with a pencil.
5. Reducer
Alt: Reducer fittings
A reducer is a type of plumbing fitting which decreases in size at one end, usually by 1/4 inch per foot or per hand. Reducers often have threaded connections at both ends, so they can be connected to either side. The most common use for reducers is as a coupling between two sections of copper tubing where one tube goes down, and another tube goes up.
6. Union
Alt: Union fittings
A union is a type of fitting that allows you to disconnect two pieces of pipe without having to cut or solder them. This makes unions especially useful for repairs. Unions come in three pieces: a nut, a male threaded adapter, and a female threaded adapter. To connect two pieces of pipe with a union, you first screw the nut onto one of the adapters. Then you screw the other adapter onto the other piece of pipe. Finally, you screw the two adapters together with the nut until it’s tight.
7. Wye
Alt: Wye Fittings
By using a wye, one pipe can be connected to another at a 45-degree angle. Wyes are often used to connect waste lines to drain pipes and vent stacks. When used in this way, a wye is also called a combo tee. The direction in which water flows through a wye depends on whether it’s attached to a horizontal or vertical pipe. In the case of connecting two horizontal pipes, water will flow out of the lower end of the vertical leg; while with two vertical pipes, water will flow out from under the top leg.
8. Couplings
Alt: Couplings
A coupling is a fitting used to connect two pieces of pipe or tubing together. Couplings are typically used when there is a need for a repair or an extension to be made to an existing line. Couplers come in a variety of types, including slip couplings, compression couplings, and barbed fittings.
Slip couplings use rubber gaskets that grip the pipes while they are being connected. compression couplings use metal bands that squeeze onto the outside of the pipe. Barbed fittings have teeth on them that clamp down on the outside of the pipe before twisting in order to secure it in place.
9. Plug
Alt: Plug
A plug is a type of fitting that is used to close off or block the end of a pipe. Plugs are inserted into the end of a pipe and then tightened in order to stop the flow of water. There are many different types of plugs, including rubber plugs, metal plugs, and plastic plugs. It is important to choose the right plug for your needs because each type has its own pros and cons.
10. Cap
Alt: Cap fittings
A cap is a type of fitting that is used to cover the end of a pipe. It can be threaded or unthreaded and is available in a variety of materials. The main purpose of a cap is to provide protection for pipes and the area around them. They are typically made from plastic, metal, or some other material that will not corrode when exposed to water. They are typically screwed onto the pipe at both ends and tightened until they form a tight seal with the walls of the pipe.
Why You Should Source Your Plumbing Valves and Fittings From YD Valves
Our company was founded in 1999 and has around 23 years experience in designing and producing angle valves and fittings. For example, our factory has supplied not just valves, but advice, suggestions, collaboration, and excellent customer service.
Our number one goal is customer satisfaction, which we achieve by keeping up with manufacturing processes, implementing quality programs, and continuously improving our product range, which we continuously desire.
With our in-house Testing department, YD is confident in the final quality of our products such as valve installation, specifications, valve sizes, etc. for the best quality and durable plumbing valves and fittings, kindly contact us.