Technical Data

Valves 101
Purchasing the Best Valve to Meet Your Specific Needs.

Valves are the controlling element in any fluid-handling system. To ensure the best service at the lowest cost, purchasing decisions should be made carefully with a full understanding of the range of products available. Purchase from a reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and reputable valve supplier with a long track record of success who can help you make the right decision the first time.

The following are some general product information and knowledge to assist you. Contact a Summit Controls representative today for additional information and for guidance and assistance with your valve purchasing needs.

Valves are primarily serving the following important functions in fluid-handling systems:

• The starting and stopping of flow
• The regulation of flow or throttling by a change of direction or restriction
• The preventing of backflow
• To relieve and regulate pressure

The key to maximum valve performance is to carefully select the correct valve for the specific service required.

Consider Valve Service Conditions:

To ensure you select the correct valve which will provide the very best service while minimizing plant maintenance and operating costs, BurnsCascade recommends asking the following questions to help guide you to the best value purchasing decision:

Medium Type:

• What liquid or gas will the valve handle?
• Is it a true fluid or does it contain solids?
• Does it remain a liquid or does it at some point vaporize and become a gas?
• Does it crystallize?
• Is the medium corrosive or erosive?

Pressure & Temperature:

Pressure and temperature may vary throughout the handling system and should always be considered in selecting the right valve materials to meet your needs.

Flow Considerations:

• Is pressure drop critical?
• Is the valve to be used for simple shutoff or for throttling?
• Is the valve needed for the prevention of backflow?

Frequency of Operation:

• Will the valve by normally open with infrequent operation?
• If the valve is to be operated frequently, will the valve design chosen provide maximum wear?

Consider Materials of Construction:

Selecting the proper valve materials is a very important step when purchasing valves.

In addition to considering the primary function of the valve (shutoff, throttling, etc.,), several other important factors should carefully be considered when selecting basic valve materials:

• Pressure-temperature ratings
• Corrosion resistance requirements

For other relevant factors and additional assistance with selecting the proper valve materials, contact a Summit Controls representative today.

Types of valves we provide with a general description of each:

Butterfly Valves:
When selecting larger throttling valves, using flanged piping connections, Butterfly Valves should be considered. These valves have a simple 90-degreed disc-stem operation and are used as shutoff valves offering minimal pressure drop through the valve opening.

Some advantages of the Butterfly Valve are initial low costs, ease of installation and actuation.

Ball Valves:
Ball Valves offer a quick-operating design that is self-sealing with no dependence on torque for seating force. A tight shutoff is achieved with plastomer or elastomer seat rings. Temperatures are limited by the seating material, which is often synthetic rubber, TFE, reinforced TFE, or nylon.

Many shutoff applications are well-suited to Ball Valves. Seals are easily replaced. Ball Valves have a low profile and are compact. Flow path through the ball and ports is smooth and unobstructed, permitting the handling of viscous fluids and slurries. Ball Valves are sometimes used for throttling, but are most effective when either fully open or closed because the seats are subject to damage from throttling.

Remote actuation can be accomplished rather easily by Ball Valves with compact actuators and remote controls.

Globe Valves:
Globe Valves are used to throttled efficiently. Seating is parallel to line of flow. Changes in direction of fluid flow through Globe Valves produces increased resistance and considerable pressure drop.

We recommend Globe Valves for services requiring frequent operation and positive shutoff.

Angle Valves:
Angle Valves have the same features of stem, disc, and seat ring design as the Globe Valve. The primary difference is that the fluid flow through the Angle Valve makes a 90-degree turn. These valves also offer less resistance to flow than a Glove Valve with an elbow which it would replace and also reduces the number of joints in a line in addition to saving installation time.

Check Valves:
Check Valves provide quick automatic reactions to flow changes. The flowing fluid pressure keeps the valve open, and any reversal of flow closes it.

Swing Check Valves:
Swing Check Valves provide minimum resistance to flow. They are well-suited for low velocity services, especially liquids and infrequent change of direction in backflow prevention. Often, they are used with Gate Valves because of very similar flow characteristics.

Y-Pattern Valves:
These valves offer good flow characteristics, and may be installed in both horizontal and vertical lines with upward flow.

Lift Check Valves:
Lift Check Valves are used for frequent change of direction, increased flow resistance, and prevention of backflow.

Wafer Check Valves:
Wafer Check Valves are light and easy to install. They are very quick closing at zero flow and used with Gate and Butterfly Valves.

Gate Valves:
When it’s important to minimize pressure drop through the valve, Gate Valves are often recommended. Gate Valves are normally used either wide open, or completely closed. They are designed to allow either a straight, full and free flow, or no flow at all. The primary design options with Gate Valves are the bonnet, stem and disc.