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Gate valves are widely used in industrial pipeline systems. One of its main advantages is that it has very little fluid resistance. When the gate valve is fully open, the medium can pass through almost unimpeded, which is crucial for pipeline systems that require large flow rate transportation.   Another important advantage of the gate valve is its ability to adapt to the medium flowing in both directions. That is to say, regardless of whether the medium flows forward or backward in the pipeline, the gate valve can work normally without worrying about the direction.   Moreover, when the gate valve is in the fully open state, the erosion of the sealing surface by the working medium is relatively small, which helps to extend the service life of the valve.

Ball valves are a highly popular type of valve. Its core advantage lies in its extremely low flow resistance, which is almost negligible and, under ideal conditions, is zero. This enables it to work efficiently in various fluid transportation systems.   Ball valves can achieve a complete seal within a wide range of pressures and temperatures, thanks to the design of the ball and the valve seat. Moreover, ball valves can be opened and closed rapidly. For some ball valve structures, the opening and closing time is only 0.05 - 0.1 seconds, making them very suitable for use in automated control systems.   For users, one of the concerns is the sealing material of the ball valve. Usually, the valve seat sealing material of ball valves is mostly polytetrafluoroethylene. Although this material has many advantages, it also has some limitations. For example, it is prone to aging at high temperatures, thus affecting the sealing performance.

Electric valves play an important role in modern industrial automation. Its greatest advantage is the realization of automatic control. Through an electric actuator, the opening and closing of the valve can be remotely controlled, which greatly improves the degree of automation and the convenience of operation of the system.   Electric valves also have the ability of precise adjustment. They can accurately control the opening degree of the valve, thus precisely regulating parameters such as the flow rate and pressure of the medium. This is crucial for some production processes with strict requirements for process parameters.   However, users need to pay attention to some issues when using electric valves. Firstly, there is the power supply problem. Ensuring a stable power supply is a prerequisite for the normal operation of electric valves. Secondly, the electric actuator is relatively complex and requires regular maintenance to ensure its performance and reliability. In addition, in some harsh working environments, such as high temperature, high humidity or corrosive environments, it is necessary to select electric valves with an appropriate protection level to prevent the equipment from being damaged.

Butterfly valves are widely used in various industries. They have many remarkable advantages. Firstly, butterfly valves have a simple structure, small volume, and light weight. This makes them easy to install and maintain. Secondly, they have a low flow resistance, which can save energy and reduce operating costs. Thirdly, butterfly valves can be used in media with suspended solid particles, and can also be used in powder and granular media according to the strength of the sealing surface. They are widely used in gas pipelines and waterways of metallurgy, light industry, power and petrochemical systems.   One of the user concerns about butterfly valves is their sealing performance. Although the sealing performance of butterfly valves is not as good as that of ball valves and stop valves, with the improvement of technology, the sealing performance of some high-quality butterfly valves has been greatly improved. Another concern is their application range. Due to the limitation of butterfly valve structure and sealing material, they are not suitable for high-temperature and high-pressure pipeline systems. The general working temperature is below 300 °C and PN 40.   In conclusion, butterfly valves have their own unique advantages and application scenarios. When choosing butterfly valves, it is necessary to consider various factors such as working conditions and medium characteristics to ensure the normal operation of the pipeline system.

Check valves play a crucial role in pipeline systems. They are designed to allow fluid to flow in one direction only and prevent backflow. One of the main advantages of check valves is their reliable backflow prevention function. They can effectively protect the pipeline system and equipment from damage caused by backflow. Secondly, check valves have a simple structure and are easy to install and maintain. Thirdly, they have a wide range of applications and can be used in various media such as water, oil, and gas.   Users often have some concerns about check valves. One of the concerns is the sealing performance of check valves. If the sealing performance is not good, it may lead to backflow and affect the normal operation of the pipeline system. Another concern is the opening and closing speed of check valves. If the opening and closing speed is too slow, it may cause water hammer and other problems. In addition, the material of check valves is also a concern. Different media and working conditions require different materials to ensure the service life and performance of check valves.   In general, check valves are an important part of pipeline systems. When choosing check valves, it is necessary to pay attention to their sealing performance, opening and closing speed, and material selection to ensure the safe and stable operation of the pipeline system.

Globe valves are commonly used in pipeline systems. They have several notable advantages. Firstly, globe valves have good flow regulation performance. They can accurately control the flow rate of the medium by adjusting the opening degree of the valve. Secondly, globe valves have a good sealing performance. The sealing surface of the valve is in close contact with the valve seat, which can effectively prevent leakage. Thirdly, globe valves have a wide range of applications and can be used in various working conditions such as high temperature, high pressure, and corrosive media.           However, there are also some issues that users need to consider when using globe valves. One of the considerations is the flow resistance of globe valves. Compared with some other types of valves, globe valves have a relatively large flow resistance, which may increase energy consumption. Another consideration is the installation and maintenance of globe valves. Globe valves require a certain installation space and need to be maintained regularly to ensure their normal operation. In addition, the price of globe valves is relatively high, which may increase the cost of the project.   In summary, globe valves have their own advantages and disadvantages. When choosing globe valves, it is necessary to comprehensively consider various factors such as working conditions, flow requirements, and cost to make a reasonable choice.

Valves are the core control elements in industrial piping systems, and can be classified into globe valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, check valves, etc. according to their functions.   Globe valves: suitable for scenarios requiring precise flow regulation (e.g. chemical reactors), but with high pressure loss.   Ball valves: known for fast switching and sealing, commonly used for opening and closing control of oil and gas pipelines.   Butterfly valve: compact and low cost, suitable for large diameter water treatment systems.     Selection of key factors:   1. media characteristics: corrosive fluids need to choose stainless steel or fluorine lined valves.   2. Pressure and temperature: high-temperature steam pipelines need pressure-resistant valves (such as cast steel gate valve).   3. control mode: manual, pneumatic or electric actuator needs to be matched according to automation requirements.     Case: a chemical plant for failure to consider the corrosivity of the medium, resulting in ordinary carbon steel valves 3 months corrosion failure, replaced by 316L stainless steel life up to 5 years.  

With the development of Internet of Things (IoT) and AI technology, valves are being upgraded from mechanical components to intelligent terminals.    - Remote monitoring: real-time collection of valve opening, pressure, and temperature data through sensors, and analysis of abnormalities (e.g., leakage warning) in the cloud.    - Predictive maintenance: AI algorithms predict valve life based on historical data, reducing unplanned downtime (e.g., a power plant reduced maintenance costs by 30% through intelligent butterfly valves).    - Automatic adjustment: In water supply systems, smart valves can dynamically adjust to flow demand to optimise energy consumption.     Challenges: Network security and data compatibility are still difficult to promote, and solutions need to be designed in conjunction with industry standards (e.g. ISA-95).  

Valve failures may lead to system shutdowns and even safety accidents. The following are common problems and countermeasures: 1. Leakage: Seat wear: Regularly replace the sealing ring or grind the valve seat. Packing box failure: Use graphite or PTFE packing to enhance the sealing performance.   2. Sticking: Medium crystallization: Use steam tracing or clean the pipeline (for example, in a urea plant, flush the check valve with hot water). Actuator failure: Check whether the air supply pressure or the motor torque meets the standard.   Maintenance suggestions: • Lubricate the valve stem every quarter and conduct a pressure test every year. • Establish a valve file to record the maintenance history and the replacement cycle of spare parts.

In deep sea, high temperature or highly corrosive environments, valves require customized design: • Deep sea valves: Use titanium alloy materials to resist high pressure (such as the Christmas tree valves at a depth of 3000 meters underwater). • Nuclear power plant valves: They need to meet the ASME N-level certification to prevent radiation leakage (such as the main steam isolation valve). • Ultra-low temperature valves: For the pipelines of liquid nitrogen (-196°C), extended valve stems are used to avoid the cold embrittlement phenomenon.   Trend: 3D printing technology is being applied to the manufacturing of valve components with complex structures, shortening the delivery cycle and reducing costs.