Piping and Valve Knowledge: [Weekly Topic] Discussing the installation direction of valves?
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This post was last edited by WQC on 2010-12-5 at 08:20. The orientation of valve installation is a well-known topic, but in some cases people don’t fully understand it; as a result, there are many inquiries regarding the proper orientation of valves. This post was created to facilitate a more in-depth discussion. Main topics for discussion: gate valves, ball valves, plug valves, and globe valves; we hope that all fellow sailors will engage in in-depth discussions on these.
This post was last edited by WQC on 2010-12-4 07:30. Many valves are directional, such as globe valves, throttle valves, pressure relief valves, check valves, etc. If installed in the wrong orientation, it can affect their performance and lifespan (as in the case of throttle valves), or they may not function at all (as in the case of pressure relief valves), or it could even pose a danger (as in the case of check valves). For ordinary valves, there are direction indicators on the valve body ； In the event that it is not available, it should be correctly identified based on the working principle of the valve. The valve chamber of the stop valve is asymmetrical on the left and right; the fluid must flow through the valve orifice from bottom to top, which results in low fluid resistance (due to the shape of the valve). It is easy to open the valve as the medium pressure acts upward, and once closed, the medium does not exert pressure on the packing, facilitating maintenance. This is why stop valves cannot be installed in reverse. Other valves also have their own characteristics. Source: Jiangzhou Valves
I need to study this carefully*; I hope someone with more experience can give me some guidance
Among the valves listed by the original poster, only the globe valve has direction requirements
Gate valves, ball valves, and plug valves have no orientation for installation, while globe valves do have an orientation requirement. The valve element of a gate valve is a gate plate; when the valve is opened or closed, this gate plate moves up and down. It is suitable for applications that require full opening or full closing, as otherwise the medium will impact the gate plate and reduce its service life. A ball valve is similar to a plug valve, except that the valve element of a ball valve is round, while that of a plug valve is rectangular. Stop valves have a specific orientation for installation: the fluid should flow in from the lower side and out from the upper side. This is because the valve core is equipped with a gland, which moves up and down to control the opening and closing of the valve.
The ball valve that our company installed last time also had a direction specified – the larger end was the side through which the fluid entered. When we asked the person who installed it, he simply said that he knew to install it that way but didn’t understand the reason behind it. Please advise us
This post was last edited by WQC on 2010-12-4 07:30. I’m here to learn*, and I was just thinking of asking about piping recently
This post was last edited by WQC on 2010-12-4 07:30. I think it’s necessary to take the valve and check its external and internal structure; without knowing whether it’s asymmetrical or symmetrical, it’s hard to know what to do.
Reply to 1# WQC: I usually install it in the direction indicated on the valve
I’m coming to check the answers; I’ve only started working recently
Stop valves have a specified installation direction, but can still be used in the opposite direction