Valve Selection Guide
The suitability of a valve for a particular application is decided by the materials used in relation to the conveyed fluid as well as its mechanical design. The table below can be used as a valve selection guide.
Conveyed Fluid | Nature of Fluid | Valve Function | Type of Disc |
---|---|---|---|
Liquid | Neutral (Water, Oil, etc) |
On/Off | Gate |
Rotary ball | |||
Plug | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Butterfly | |||
Plug gate | |||
Control valve, modulating | Globe | ||
Butterfly | |||
Plug gate | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Needle | |||
Corrosive (Acid, alkaline etc.) |
On/Off | Gate | |
Plug gate | |||
Rotary ball | |||
Plug | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Butterfly | |||
Control valve, modulating | Globe | ||
Diaphragm | |||
Butterfly | |||
Plug gate | |||
Hygienic (Food, beverages, drugs etc) |
On/Off | Butterfly | |
Diaphragm | |||
Control valve, modulating | Butterfly | ||
Diaphragm | |||
Squeeze | |||
Pinch | |||
Slurry | On/Off | Rotary ball | |
Butterfly | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Plug | |||
Pinch | |||
Squeeze | |||
Control valve, modulating | Butterfly | ||
Diaphragm | |||
Squeeze | |||
Pinch | |||
Gate | |||
Fibrous Suspensions | On/Off, Control valve, modulating |
Gate | |
Diaphragm | |||
Squeeze | |||
Pinch | |||
Gas | Neutral (Air, Steam etc) |
On/Off | Gate |
Globe | |||
Rotary ball | |||
Plug | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Control valve, modulating | Globe | ||
Needle | |||
Butterfly | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Gate | |||
Corrosive (Acid vapors, chlorine etc.) |
On/Off | Butterfly | |
Rotary ball | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Plug | |||
Control valve, modulating | Butterfly | ||
Globe | |||
Needle | |||
Diaphragm | |||
Vacuum | On/Off | Gate | |
Globe | |||
Rotary ball | |||
Butterfly | |||
Solids | Abrasive Powder (Silica, etc) |
On/Off, Control valve, modulating |
Pinch |
Squeeze | |||
Spiral sock | |||
Lubricating powder (graphite, talcum, etc | On/Off, Control valve, modulating |
Pinch | |
Gate | |||
Spiral sock | |||
Squeeze |
Related Topics
• Control Valve Sizing
Control Valve terminology, bodies, trim, flow characteristics, Cv and Kv sizing, noise, actuators, positioners and more.
• Design of Control and Safety Valves
Sizing and dimensions of control valves & equipment in steam and condensate systems.
• International Valve Standards
International valve standards for piping systems.
• Piping Systems
Calculate dimensions of pipes and tubes. Pressure drop calculations and head loss charts. Use of different piping materials. Insulation of pipes and tubes and heat loss diagrams.
Related Documents
ASME - Valve Standards
An overview of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers - ASME - valve standards.
ASTM - Valve Standards
An overview of ASTM International - American Society for Testing and Materials - valve standards.
Control Valves - Flow Characteristics
Flow capacities vs. stem opening.
Control Valves - Leakage Classification
Seat leakage classification through control valves.
Diaphragm Valves - Diaphragm Materials
Common diaphragm materials and their main properties when used in diaphragm valves.
ISO Valve Standards
An overview of ISO - International Organization for Standardization - valve standards.
Liquid, Steam and Gas - Flow Coefficients Cv
Calculate flow coefficients for the design of control valves - Imperial units.
Safety Valve Standards
The most common used safety valve standards in Germany, UK, USA, France, Japan, Australia and Europe.
Slurry Transports - Minimum Flow Velocities
Flow velocities in slurry transport systems to avoid settling of solids.
Steam Control Valves - Calculate Flow Factor Kv
Designing steam control valves and their Kv values.
Valve Abbreviations
US valve abbreviations commonly used in drawings and documentation.
Valve Authority
The valve authority expresses the ratio between pressure drop across the control valve compared to total pressure drop across the whole system.
Valve Type Classifications
Categories of valves.
Weir Diaphragm Valves - Flow Coefficients and Flow Factors
Typical flow coefficients - Cv - and flow factors - Kv - for weir diaphragm valves.