Factors to Consider When Selecting a Valve

Choosing a valve for a certain application isn’t a beginner’s task. Sometimes an incorrect valve can be selected if you aren’t careful. So, what do you need to know to begin your search for the right valve?

Know Your Process Conditions

Without knowing or sharing the process conditions, the wrong type of valve could be selected. For example, a customer requests a globe valve without sharing their process conditions. Unknown to our engineers, the customer’s application needs a large capacity of flow that would perform better with a butterfly or ball valve. Problems might arise in the future with the capacity of the globe valve. This is why it is critical to know the process conditions. A valve can only be guaranteed when all of the process conditions are known!

Calculate the Valve Flow

Are you conveying liquid, gas, or solids? The medium that you are pumping will help determine the type of valve you need. The valve flow coefficient (C_v) combines the effects of all flow restrictions in the valve into a single number. Liquids are incompressible while gases are compressible, so there are different equations for calculating flow.

Identify your Valve Function

You must know how your valve will function in your application. Is it normally open? Normally closed? Do you need to use it to control flow? Is it a 2-way, 3-way, or multipurpose valve? We can help you identify your valve function if you are unsure. Knowing the process conditions of the valve is crucial.

If you're still not sure how to select a valve, contact us! Our experienced engineers are happy to help you find the proper valve for your applications.