Industrial Valves

Industrial valves control, regulate, isolate, and direct the flow of liquids, gases, steam, slurries, and other process media. From simple shutoff applications to precise flow control and pressure protection, selecting the right valve helps keep process systems operating safely, efficiently, and reliably.

Centro offers industrial valves for water and wastewater treatment, chemical processing, food and beverage, power generation, oil and gas, pulp and paper, mining, pharmaceutical, and general manufacturing applications.

Common industrial valve types include ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, globe valves, check valves, knife gate valves, needle valves, plug valves, diaphragm valves, pinch valves, control valves, and pressure relief and safety valves.

Valves may be manually operated with levers, handwheels, chain wheels, or gear operators, or automated with electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuators. Automated valve packages can also incorporate positioners, limit switches, solenoids, and other accessories for integration with plant control systems.

How to Choose the Right Industrial Valve

Choosing the right valve depends on the application, process conditions, media, piping system, and required level of control.

1. Determine the valve function. Identify whether the valve will be used for isolation, throttling or flow control, backflow prevention, or overpressure protection.
2. Confirm operating conditions. Consider pipe size, flow rate, required Cv, allowable pressure drop, operating pressure, temperature range, and cycling frequency.
3. Identify the process media. Consider viscosity, solids content, abrasiveness, corrosiveness, and any special service requirements such as steam, oxygen, vacuum, sanitary, or hazardous media.
4. Select the appropriate valve type. Ball valves are commonly used for quick shutoff and low pressure drop. Globe and control valves provide more precise throttling. Butterfly valves offer a compact solution for larger pipe sizes, while gate valves are commonly used for full-open or full-closed isolation. Knife gate valves are well suited for slurries and solids-containing media, while check valves help prevent reverse flow.
5. Choose the end connection. Options may include threaded NPT, socket weld, butt weld, flanged, wafer, lug, or sanitary clamp connections depending on the valve and piping system.
6. Select manual or automated operation. Valve actuation options include manual, pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic operation. Automated applications may also require fail-open or fail-closed operation, position feedback, solenoids, positioners, or local controls.
7. Verify ratings and standards. Confirm that valve pressure and temperature ratings, materials, leakage requirements, certifications, and applicable industry standards meet the requirements of the application.
8. Consider maintenance and service life. Proper valve and actuator sizing, packing selection, stem sealing, and accessibility for inspection and maintenance can improve reliability and reduce premature wear.

Industrial Valve Materials and Pressure Ratings

Industrial valves are available in a wide range of body, trim, seat, and seal materials to accommodate different process conditions.

Common valve body materials include:

• Brass and bronze
• Carbon steel
• Stainless steel
• Duplex stainless steel
• Specialty alloys
• PVC
• CPVC
• PVDF and other engineered plastics

Common seat and seal materials include PTFE, reinforced PTFE, EPDM, FKM, NBR, and metal-seated designs for high-temperature or severe-service applications.

Pressure and temperature ratings should always be matched to the process conditions. Flanged industrial valves are available in a variety of ASME pressure classes, including Class 150, 300, 600, and higher ratings for demanding applications.

Industrial Valve Applications

Industrial valves are used throughout process and manufacturing facilities to control the movement of fluids and gases.

Common applications include:

• Pump and tank isolation
• Flow and process control
• Heat exchanger and reactor control
• Pump discharge backflow prevention
• Water and wastewater treatment
• Chemical and corrosive fluid handling
• Slurry and solids handling
• Steam and clean steam distribution
• Sanitary and hygienic processing
• Pressure relief for vessels and pipelines
• Automated process control systems

Centro supplies valves for industries including chemical processing, food and beverage, water and wastewater, pulp and paper, oil and gas, power generation, mining, pharmaceuticals, and general manufacturing.

Need Help Selecting an Industrial Valve?

The right industrial valve depends on more than pipe size alone. Media, flow rate, pressure, temperature, valve function, materials, end connections, and automation requirements can all affect valve selection.

Centro's valve and automation specialists can help you select the appropriate valve for your application and provide complete automated valve packages when needed, including actuators, positioners, limit switches, solenoids, and other accessories.

Contact Centro for help selecting an industrial valve or automated valve package for your process.

Actuation refers to the process of causing something to move or operate. This can be achieved by using an actuator, a device that converts a source of energy into motion. There are two types of actuators: linear actuators, which move in a straight line, and rotary actuators, which produce rotary motion. Actuators are commonly used in various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and robotics.

Engineered products are designed and manufactured to meet specific technical and performance requirements. They are typically custom-made or tailored to fit a particular application or need. Some examples of engineered products include actuators, heat exchangers, loading systems, and filtration systems.

Steam traps are automatic valves that filter out condensate and non-condensable gases such as air without allowing steam to escape. In the industry, steam is utilized regularly for heating or as driving energy for mechanical power. Steam traps prevent condensation from being wasted. There are three types of steam traps thermostatic, mechanical, and thermodynamic. Thermostatic steam traps act in response to the surrounding steam temperature. There are three types of thermostatic steam traps liquid expansion traps, bimetallic and balanced pressure thermostatic traps. Each operates differently and is suited to specific kinds of applications. Mechanical steam traps depend on the difference in density between steam and condensate. They can constantly pass large volumes of condensate and are fit for a wide range of process applications. Mechanical steam trap types include ball float and inverted bucket steam traps.

Isolation rings, also known as isolation mounts or isolation pads, are essential components used to prevent the transfer of vibrations and shocks between interconnected machinery or equipment. These rings are typically made of resilient materials like rubber, neoprene, or silicone, and are designed to absorb and dampen vibrations generated by rotating or moving equipment. By creating a barrier between the equipment and its surroundings, isolation rings effectively reduce noise, protect sensitive machinery from damage, and improve overall system performance. They find widespread applications in various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and electronics, where precision and stability are crucial. Isolation rings play a critical role in maintaining smooth and efficient operations while ensuring the longevity of equipment and machinery.