#1 Knowledge Base for Pipes, Valves, FittingsWhat are valves, key types, ASTM cast and forged materials, dimensions and weights
Learn about the different types of valves used in the oil and gas industry and their differences: API and ASME gate, globe, check, ball, and butterfly designs (manual or actuated, with forged and cast bodies). Briefly said, valves are mechanical devices used in piping applications to control, regulate and open/close the fluid’ s flow and… read more »
Which are the key parts of a valve? It is a complex mechanical device manufactured by assembling a number of different components: the body (the pressure containing shell, made of cast or forged steel, available with flanged, threaded or socket weld connection to pipes), the bonnet, the trim (the disc, the seat, the stem, and the… read more »
Learn about the key ASTM material specifications for valves. A cast valve body is manufactured by pouring liquid metals into molds and is common for valves above 2 inches in diameter. A forged valve body is produced by forging and machining solid steel. The key specifications for cast steel valves body materials are ASTM A216 (WCA, WCB, WCC),… read more »
What is a gate valve? It is a shut-off device to open and close the flow of the fluid conveyed by a piping system (or a pipeline). A gate valve is a bi-directional valve, as the fluid may flow in either direction. The installation of this type of valve creates a modest pressure drop in the pipeline, lower… read more »
What is a globe valve? When shall it be used instead of gate and ball valves? In this article, we illustrate the scope of this type of valve (which is, in a word, to regulate the flow), the differences with other types of valve, the alternative designs, and specifications (BS 1873 for the cast steel… read more »
A check valve prevents potentially damaging backflows to protect equipment like pumps and compressors. Non-return valves allow the flow of the fluid in one direction only and block reverse flows. This type of valves is available with cast and forged bodies (BS 1868, API 6D, API 602) and in several designs as swing, ball, lift, stop… read more »
A ball valve features a spherical disc to open and close the flow of the fluid. They are the industry standard for pipeline shut-off applications, as their design guarantees very tight and leak-free sealing even after years of operation. The two key types of ball valves are the floating and the trunnion designs (side or top… read more »
A butterfly valve is used to shut off or modulate the flow of a fluid (isolation and regulation). API 609 Centric butterfly valves (soft seated) are preferred to gate and ball valves for low-pressure and non-critical applications as they are cheaper, lighter and easier to install. Eccentric butterfly valves (double offset and triple offset valves) with… read more »
A safety valve protects people, the environment, and other plant assets from overpressure that may cause explosions or other damaging events. A safety valve opens automatically anytime a set pressure is exceeded. Safety valves are last-resource devices that intervene when other protection devices have failed. Safety valves may be spring or pilot operated. WHAT IS… read more »
API 6D plug valve features a cylindrical or conic disc, with one or multiple horizontal hollow passageways, that can be rotated to open, close or control the flow of the fluid through the valve. The most used type is the two-port lubricated type with an open and closed position. WHAT IS A PLUG VALVE? This… read more »
Strainers are mechanical devices to retain (and remove) foreign particles from flowing liquids and protect equipment such as pumps and compressors. There are several types of strainers, including the Y, basket and duplex types. A critical element is the strainer’s screen, specifically its mesh size (perforation density). PIPE STRAINERS TYPES There are two basic designs… read more »
What is the face to face dimension of a flanged ball, globe or gate valve? The ASME B16.10 chart answers this question, as it standardizes the distance between the inlet and the outlet of the most common flanged valves. The purpose of this ASME specification is to ensure the interchangeability of valves produced by different manufacturers. … read more »