Many people do not realize that we use valves almost everywhere in our daily lives; from the plumbing valves that are used for taps to control the flow of water to the gas control valves that regulate gas for our stoves. Even our own bodies uses valves for controlling the flow of blood in and out of the heart.
A valve is a device that regulates or directs the flow of liquids, fluidized solids and gases. This is done by the opening or closing of a particular passage way. In ancient times, the valve was simply a free flap, which dropped to block the flow of fluids. From there, the humble device has evolved and diversified to give us many uses of the basic principle.
Valves are found in almost every industrial process, such as water and sewage processing, power generation, mining, petroleum and oil processing, food manufacturing, and many other fields.
Types of Valves
Vales are operated manually or by automatic control based systems. These changes act upon the diaphragm, which activates the valve and also positions it accurately, allowing control over the necessary requirements.
Valves can be classified into a number of types, such as pressure, safety, check and choke valves, to name a few. However, they may also be classified depending on how they are actuated, such as:
- Hydraulic: These valves are regulated using the principles of fluid mechanics and are used to control the flow of substances, usually water or oils, from an input port to the output port. The direction of flow is determined by the location of the spool.
- Pneumatic: This device operates on the application of pressured gases to control the flow of substances. One of the best cited uses was in the pneumatic valve spring that was used to cut off compressed air in the high speed internal combustible engines of racing cars.
- Manual: The name says it all; this device requires the use of physical effort to regulate the flow of substances, such as our everyday sink faucets, as well as kitchen gas regulators.
- Solenoid: These are electro-mechanically operated, which means that they are controlled by electric currents. In a two-port valve, either the flow is switched off or turned on. Three port valves are used to switch between different outflows.
At Amazonhose.com, you will find different types of valves for your needs. We also cater to the customized needs of individual customers, so contact us today and let us know what you are looking for. We may have it in stock or can order it from the manufacturer.