What Is A Shut-Off Valve

Introduction

Shut-off valve, also known as stop valve, closing valve and cut-off valve, is a key device for controlling the flow of liquid or gas in a pipeline system. Its main function is to fully open to allow the medium to flow freely when needed, or to fully close to prevent the flow of the medium. It is particularly suitable for cutting off the fluid in an emergency to ensure the safety of the pipeline system.

Whether it is a household water system or an industrial fluid delivery system, the shut-off valve plays a very important role and is an indispensable part of the pipeline system. By opening and closing the shut-off valve, users can quickly cut off the flow of media when maintenance is required or an emergency occurs, ensuring system safety and convenient operation.

Shut-Off Valve Types

There are various types of shut-off valves, and different types and structures are suitable for different scenarios and fields. The main shut-off valves on the market are as follows:

Ball valve

The ball valve mainly uses a rotating ball inside the valve to control the flow of fluid. It is easy to operate, quick to open and close, and has good sealing. It is the most common shut-off valve.

Gate valve

The gate valve controls the passage and blocking of fluid by vertically lifting the gate. It is suitable for fully open or fully closed scenes, but not suitable for flow regulation.

Needle valve

The needle valve is used to finely control tiny flows. Its valve needle is very small and is suitable for laboratory precision equipment or small pipeline systems that require precise control.

Дроссельный клапан

Butterfly valve controls the flow of fluid by rotating a circular valve plate. It has a compact structure and fast operation. It is suitable for large-flow and large-diameter pipeline systems with limited space.

Angle seat valve

The outlet direction of an angle seat valve is set at 90 degrees, making it easy to operate and space-saving. It is commonly found at the connection points of household washbasins and toilet water pipes, playing a vital role in domestic water piping systems.

Globe valve

The stop valve controls the flow of fluid by moving the valve core up and down in the valve. It can achieve a certain degree of flow regulation and is suitable for places with high control accuracy requirements.

Check valve

The check valve usually does not require manual control of the switch. Its main function is to automatically prevent backflow. It is "closed" when backflow occurs to block the passage of fluid.

Shut-Off Valve Functions

The shut-off valve has the following functions:

• Emergency shutdown: In the event of pipeline and equipment failure or leakage, the shut-off valve can be closed to quickly cut off the system fluid to prevent the accident from expanding.

• Regulating flow: Some shut-off valves can adjust the flow and pressure of the fluid in the pipeline system, such as the stop valve, to ensure the stability of the pipeline system operation.

• Convenient system maintenance: When a part of the system needs to be repaired or replaced, the presence of the shut-off valve can temporarily stop the local system from running without affecting the overall efficiency of the system.

• Energy saving: The shut-off valve can avoid useless flow and waste, avoid unnecessary losses, and improve the efficiency of system operation.

Shut-Off Valve Applications

The application range of the shut-off valve is very wide, and it can appear in almost all pipeline systems involving liquid and gas flow control.

• Family residence: such as kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, tap water pipelines, etc., to facilitate residents to control the local water supply when necessary.

• Industrial pipeline system: used to control the flow of various media, such as oil, gas, water, etc. And it can control the flow of high temperature, high pressure, or corrosive media, such as petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, etc.

• Agricultural irrigation system: used to regulate and control the water flow and flow rate of irrigation systems in various regions.

• Municipal water supply and drainage system: used to control urban pipe networks and achieve regional control and maintenance.

• Laboratory system: to achieve precise distribution, transportation, and control of various chemical media, water, gas, etc.

How to Install and Replace A Shut-Off Valve?

• Close the main valve and drain the pipeline: Before installing or replacing the shut-off valve, be sure to turn off the main valve or power supply of the entire system to ensure that there is no pressure and fluid in the pipeline system to ensure work safety.

• Remove the old valve: Use a wrench or other tools to remove the old valve according to the corresponding disassembly method.

• Clean the pipeline interface: After removing the old valve, check whether there is rust, impurities, or old sealing materials at the pipeline interface, and do the corresponding cleaning work.

• Install the new valve: Align the interface, install the new valve, and use sealing tape or sealant to enhance the sealing effect.

• Check the sealing performance: Slowly open the main valve to check whether there is leakage and whether the sealing performance is good. If there is no problem, the installation can be completed, and the valve condition and sealing effect can be checked regularly afterwards.

How to Choose An Appropriate Shut-Off Valve For Your System?

When choosing a suitable shut-off valve for your piping system, you need to consider the following factors.

• Medium type: Different media (such as water, oil, gas and corrosive media, etc.) are suitable for valves made of different materials, such as stainless steel, brass, etc.

• Pipeline system properties: Confirm the pipe interface size and pressure level to avoid data inconsistency, causing leakage or affecting system safety.

• Installation space: If the installation space is relatively small, you cannot choose a larger shut-off valve.

• Pipeline system requirements: Different system requirements require different shut-off valves. If only the switch function is required, you can choose a ball valve or a gate valve; if you need to adjust the flow, you need to choose a stop valve or a needle valve.

Заключение

The shut-off valve is an important component in the pipeline system. Whether it is the household water supply or industrial fluid transportation, it plays a vital role in various systems. Understanding the types, functions, installation methods, and selection points of shut-off valves can help you configure the pipeline system more reasonably and improve overall efficiency and safety.

If you have any needs to purchase a shut-off valve, our professional team will be happy to provide you with advice.