Choosing valves three key points

Valves are core components in pipeline systems, controlling the flow of media and regulating flow rates. While seemingly just a small accessory, they directly determine the stable operation, safety, and operating costs of the entire system. The accuracy of valve selection has a far greater impact on engineering and production than imagined.

If valves are selected arbitrarily based solely on factors such as pipe diameter and price, without considering actual operating conditions and media characteristics, various problems may arise during operation, leading to serious safety hazards and further increasing overall energy consumption and operating costs.
Therefore, scientifically selecting valves based on actual needs is a prerequisite for ensuring the long-term stable and economical operation of pipeline systems.

To select the right valve, the first step is to confirm the basic parameters. All selection decisions must be based on actual operating conditions. Accurately confirming three core basic parameters is a crucial part of valve selection and none can be omitted.

1.Confirming the properties of the transported medium: This is the core basis for determining the valve material and sealing type. It's necessary to clarify whether the medium is liquid, gas, or viscous fluid. Simultaneously, it's crucial to verify whether the medium is corrosive, its solids content, and its actual operating temperature range. The medium temperature is particularly closely related to valve selection. High and low temperature conditions directly limit the choice of valve seals and valve body materials. Media with high solids content require consideration of anti-clogging design, and corrosive media necessitate the selection of corrosion-resistant valve bodies and fittings.

2.Confirm working pressure and operating pressure fluctuations: When selecting valves with appropriate nominal pressure, it is necessary to not only match the normal working pressure of the pipeline, but also to consider the transient pressure shocks that may occur during actual operation, such as pressure fluctuations caused by pump start-up and shutdown or rapid valve opening and closing. A reasonable pressure margin should be reserved during the selection to avoid problems such as sealing failure and valve body damage due to pressure exceeding the valve's nominal pressure range.

3.Confirm the core parameters of the pipeline: pipe diameter (DN), actual flow requirements, and the horizontal and vertical installation space for the valves. This will directly affect the valve's structure and installation method. At the same time, it is also necessary to calculate the actual operating frequency of the valves. The operating conditions of high-frequency and low-frequency switching have different requirements for the valve's wear resistance and operating structure. These parameters will become important references for the subsequent selection of valve type and actuator.