Your procurement decisions for pipe, fittings, structural products, and other flow control components make a world of difference when it comes to the performance and longevity of the systems you build. For no PVF product is that more true than for valves. With so many different types of valves to choose from, knowing which kind of valve to use for a given project can be especially daunting.
In this blog, the PVF experts at American Stainless will make the question of which kind of valve you should use an easier one to answer. Find out what you need to know to determine the right valve for safe, efficient, long-lived performance.
A Project Manager’s Dilemma: Choosing the Best Valve for the Job
Procuring the best industrial valve for any project isn’t easy. Valves come with numerous specifications—pressure ratings, temperature tolerances, flow characteristics and control mechanisms, material compatibility—that determine their most appropriate use cases. Sifting through these to find the right valve for its intended environment can be a headache and a half.
On top of that, choosing the best valve also involves having to find the best supplier for the valves you need—suppliers who can provide quality products at competitive costs and on time to keep your budget and deadlines on track.
Valves also need to meet the specific regulatory standards of your customer’s industrial environment, and fit seamlessly into existing systems. Looking ahead, you also need to consider the lifespan and maintenance requirements of the valves you choose.
With all these factors to keep in mind, it’s not easy to select the right valve—now without help, at least. That’s why we’re here to offer it. In the next section, we’ll take a look at different types of valves and what makes them more or less suited for different applications and environments, then walk you through an example decision-making process for industrial valve selection.
Which kind of valve is right for your project?
Is your next project a high-pressure steam line or a pipeline for a food and beverage processing system? Are you building a flow control system for water or gas lines where backflow is a major concern? Is your system going to handle especially corrosive fluid media in chemical processing plants?
These are just a few of the questions that might make your head spin when it comes to choosing valves for your next project. In this section of our valve selection guide, we’ll break down factors such as material compatibility, pressure and temperature ratings, application-specific requirements, and maintenance requirements and provide examples of how certain types of valves fulfill different requirements.
Material Compatibility
Steel, brass or bronze, PVC, and more—there are plenty of options when it comes to materials for valves. This choice isn’t just for aesthetics—it plays a significant role in the performance and durability of your valve in the field.
For example:
- High-pressure, high-temperature steam lines in steel mills or pulp and paper mills call for the durability and strength of steel valves.
- Different types of cast iron valves can offer cost-effective wear, fatigue, and impact resistance for abrasive fluid media.
- PVC and other industrial plastics are highly corrosion resistant, making them ideal for handling corrosive media in lower-pressure applications.
- Stainless steel provides excellent corrosion resistance and is easy to keep sanitary, perfect for pharmaceutical and food & beverage applications.
Pressure and Temperature Ratings
To determine the right valve for your next project, you need to keep in mind the normal pressure and temperature ranges it will handle in its operating environment. Different valve designs offer their own advantages for high, moderate, or low pressures or temperatures.
For example:
- Ball valves provide quick positive shut-off and precise flow control, making them well-suited to high-pressure conditions.
- Gate valves are also exceptionally reliable in high-temperature and high-pressure applications due to their sliding gate mechanism.
- Butterfly valves are compact, cost-effective, and suitable for high-volume, low-pressure applications.
Specific Applications
You have plenty of different types of valves to choose from—each with their own unique flow control mechanisms that are better suited for certain industrial environments, operating conditions, and types of fluid media.
For example:
- Check valves have an automatic, self-acting mechanism to prevent backflow, particularly in water and gas lines.
- Plug valves use a simple mechanism for quick, reliable shutoff and can handle everything from pressurized gases to viscous fluids and slurries.
- Pressure-reducing valves use a spring mechanism and diaphragm to prevent excess fluid pressure from damaging downstream equipment.
Maintenance Requirements
Last but not least, when you choose a valve for your industrial projects, the maintenance needs of various valve types should be on your radar. The fewer moving parts and less complex mechanisms a valve has, the lower-maintenance it will be. For example, ball valves will generally require less maintenance due to fewer moving parts. Lower maintenance requirements means lower lifetime operating costs.
However, the simplest and least maintenance-heavy valve for the job might not be the right option. Valves like gate valves might require more frequent checking because of their more complex mechanisms and seating surfaces, but are much better suited for slurries and viscous fluids under high pressures than ball valves.
A low-maintenance valve isn’t always the valve with the most appropriate mechanisms for a given application. Maintenance requirements are just one factor to keep in mind in your hunt for the perfect valve.
How to Choose a Valve For Your Next Project: A Decision-Making Guide
What is the best way to determine the right valve for the job? Don’t feel intimidated by all the different variables there are to take into account—just break down your decision-making process into bite-sized chunks and take them one step at a time, and you’ll have your answer before you know it.
- Perform a Project Requirements Analysis: Make sure you have a clear understanding of the situation. First things first, you need to know the type of fluid media your valve will be handling, as well as the pressure, temperature, and any other flow control requirements (quick shut-off, pressure regulation, precise throttling, etc.).
- Check Material Compatibility: Cross-reference your options for valve materials against your fluid media and industrial environment for chemical compatibility. The right material prevents corrosion from aggressive chemicals or wear from abrasive media. Ensure your choice of materials satisfy industry standards (such as ASME, ANSI, API) and local regulations for safety and environmental compliance.
- Consult Stakeholders: Bring in engineers and other experts early in the procurement process to build a sturdy foundation for decision-making out of their insights. Their experience can ease the burden of choosing the best valve for your project.
- Review Technical Specs: When investigating your valve options, compare and contrast their reliability, durability, and ease of maintenance to find the best fit for your application, timeline, and budget concerns.
- Consider Long-Term Value: Take into account your choice of valve’s impact on system efficiency, maintenance intervals, and potential downtime costs over its lifetime to choose a valve that provides the best performance for the lowest total operational costs.
- Gather Documentation for Approval: Make sure you have all the documentation needed to demonstrate lifetime performance, operating cost, and adherence to regulations to justify your procurement decision.
American Stainless: Trusted for the Best Industrial Valves
There is so much to know about industrial valves that a single valve selection guide can hardly even begin to encompass it all. That’s where our expert customer service team comes in. If you’re struggling to choose the best type of valve for an upcoming project, we’re here to help.
American Stainless isn’t just a PVF supplier—we’re a trusted partner for mechanical contractors and pipe fabricators. Every day, our customer service professionals put their expertise in industrial sectors across the US Southeast—including construction, steel and pulp and paper mills, chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and food and beverage processors—to work to help procurement and project managers like you make informed purchasing decisions.
We can tell you the most appropriate valve body material for your industrial environment, the right flow control mechanisms for your application, and the best brand of valve to meet your performance requirements. And with our world-class order fulfillment and shipping process, we can have the perfect valve for the job sourced from top manufacturers and delivered straight to your jobsite ASAP.
Reach out to us for a quote today and take the pain out of choosing the best valve for the job.
FAQs
What factors should be considered when selecting a valve for a project?
When selecting a valve, consider factors such as material compatibility, pressure and temperature ratings, application-specific requirements, maintenance needs, and regulatory standards. These factors ensure the valve’s performance and longevity in its intended environment.
How do I determine the right valve material for my project?
To determine the right valve material, assess the fluid media and industrial environment for chemical compatibility. Consider materials like steel for high-pressure, high-temperature applications, PVC for corrosion resistance, and stainless steel for sanitary conditions in food and pharmaceutical applications.
What are the maintenance requirements for different types of valves?
Maintenance requirements vary by valve type. Valves with fewer moving parts, like ball valves, generally require less maintenance. However, more complex valves like gate valves may need frequent checks but are better suited for specific applications like handling slurries under high pressure.
How can American Stainless assist in valve selection for my project?
American Stainless offers expert guidance in selecting the best valve for your project. Our team can advise on material compatibility, flow control mechanisms, and brand selection. We also provide efficient order fulfillment and shipping to ensure timely delivery of the right valve to your job site.