Industrial Pipeline "Gatekeeper": Four Major
Valve Technology Principles and Innovative Applications
As my country's intelligent manufacturing upgrade accelerates, valve technology, as a key component of fluid control, continues to innovate. Recently, it was learned from the China Valve Industry Association that the four major categories of products, stop valves, gate valves, ball valves, and butterfly valves, account for more than 90% of the market share of industrial pipeline systems, and their technological evolution is directly related to the operating efficiency of energy, chemical industry, municipal water affairs and other fields.
1. Precision flow control expert-stop valve
The stop valve with a vertical lift structure of the valve disc has become the preferred solution for flow regulation under high-pressure conditions with its unique flow channel design of "low inlet and high outlet". The technical director of a petrochemical enterprise said: "In the ethylene unit, the adjustment accuracy of the stop valve can reach ±2%, far exceeding other valve types." However, it is necessary to pay attention to its installation directional requirements. Reverse installation may cause seal failure.
The gate valve performs well in high-temperature and high-pressure pipelines with the technical characteristics of the gate disc vertically cutting off the medium. The latest data from the National Pipeline Network Group shows that in the West-East Gas Pipeline III project, the 48-inch Class 900 gate valve has created an industry record of zero leakage for five consecutive years. Its full-bore design reduces fluid resistance by more than 60%, making it particularly suitable for long-distance pipeline applications.
3. The new favorite of intelligent control -
Ball Valve
The ball valve, which can be quickly opened and closed by rotating 90 degrees, is becoming a core component of the smart water system. The 5G smart ball valve launched by a valve company in Zhejiang Province realizes remote pressure control through built-in sensors, and the fault response time is shortened to 15 seconds. Industry experts pointed out: "The PTFE sealing technology of the ball valve keeps it stable under working conditions of -196℃ to 260℃."
The lightweight design of the butterfly valve is in line with the concept of green manufacturing. A renovation case of a sewage treatment plant in Shanghai shows that after replacing it with a wafer-type butterfly valve, the system energy consumption is reduced by 18%, and the maintenance cycle is extended by 3 times. Its disc-type valve plate structure is particularly suitable for large flow regulation, and its market share in DN300 and above calibers exceeds 75%.
Experts from the Pressure Pipeline Department of the China Special Inspection Institute emphasized: "Valve selection needs to comprehensively consider pressure level, medium characteristics and operation frequency. In the future, valves will develop in the direction of intelligence and low leakage rate."
