#BASICS

Design

The Eccentric Plug Valve

The first non-lubricated eccentric plug valve was developed in the late 1920s, designed to solve the issue of pitch buildup in paper mill valves.

Technical

Solenoid Valves: Direct-Acting Versus Pilot-Operated

During a recent training session with VMA members, one of the most frequently asked questions I get from people came up: What’s the difference between direct-acting and pilot-operated solenoid valves (SOV), and how do we choose between them?

Technical

Pinch Valves: An Uncomplicated Valve With an Important Purpose

Used in on/off or throttling applications, choosing the right style pinch valve depends on the application.

Education

Valve Basics: New Valve Modifications

Valve modification can be defined as: adding value to standard or “commodity” valves by installing actuators, special trims, different end-connections, packing and gaskets, and other accessories or upgrades not provided on the original product.

Fundamental Operation of Pilot-Operated Safety Relief Valves

In this second of a series, we explore another type of pressure relief valves used in common applications.

Technical

Valve Basics: Electric Actuator Controls

Electric valve actuators control the opening and closing of valves. With a motor drive that provides torque to operate the valve, these actuators are frequently used on multi-turn valves such as gate or globe and also on ball, plug and other quarter-turn valves.

Design

Pressure Relief Valve Basics – Spring-Loaded Safety Relief Valves

Learn for the first time or brush up on this common valve product.

Design

Case Study: Sizing of Tailings Tank Level Control Valves in Mining Applications

A comprehensive engineering approach is needed to ensure valves are properly designed to handle abrasive services such as mining applications.

Design

The Evolution of the All-Encompassing Ball Valve

The compact design, simplicity of use, ease of repair and wide performance capability have helped to make the ball valve a dominant design in modern industrial applications.

Technical

A Primer on Pressure Seal Valves

High pressure, high-temperature applications require a safe, leak-free pressure-containing boundary.

Technical

The Misunderstood Check Valve

Too often this valve is unjustly blamed when problems occur, but the real culprit is its use in the wrong applications.

Manufacturing

Ancient Roman Valves

The story of water supply in the ancient Roman Empire is grand.

Education

Register for the Valve Basics Seminar and Petting Zoo Today!

Join us Nov. 9-11 in Pasadena, TX for a three-day program consisting of content that covers the common types of valves used in multiple applications, an advanced look at flow-control technology beyond the common valve used in specific markets, and how valves continue to evolve based on current trends.

Technical

Back to Basics: Globe Valves

There are many applications where the globe valve outshines other designs, so the future is still bright for these long-time favorites of the flow control industry.

Valve Basics: Plastic Valves

Polymer materials of construction expand capabilities of valves for specific applications.

Manufacturing

The Future of Valve Manufacturing is Already Here

Companies in the valve and control products industry are responding to a confluence of forces that are changing the landscape of manufacturing — automation, agility and digitalization to name a few.

Design

Understanding Torque for Quarter-Turn Valves

Valve manufacturers publish torques for their products so that actuation and mounting hardware can be properly selected.

Education

An Overview of Butterfly Valves

A key advantage of selecting a butterfly valve is the reduction of space and weight to a system compared with other options such as ball, check, globe or gate valves.

Education

Ball Valve Basics

Welcome to the first in a series of Valve Basics articles, each focused on a major product type and written especially for newcomers to the industries that use and make valves and related products.

Insights

Five Reasons Why the Right Strategy Leads to the Success of Digital Transformation Implementation

The past few years have proven that digital transformation (DT) is more than just a trend. It is becoming one of the frontrunners for ensuring business continuity through modernizing times. However, despite being an essential component for adaptability in a competitive industry, not all companies would consider their DT implementation a success.

Education

The Fundamentals of Gate Valves

The venerable gate valve remains a primary choice for many service applications.

Operational Basics of Safety Valves

These spring-loaded valves provide overpressure protection for downstream equipment.

Applications

Understanding the Term and Mission of "Water Positivity"

In an effort to fight water scarcity, companies like Microsoft, Google and Facebook have all pledged to become water-positive by 2030.

Education

Weight-loaded, Low-pressure Protection Devices 101

In the world of low-pressure and low-vacuum relief valves—defined for this article as valves with settings less than 15 psig—there are several different common valve configurations.

Education

Differences Between Double Block and Bleed and Double Isolation

There is an important distinction between DBB and DIB, as they often fall under the same category and are used interchangeably within the industry.

Education

Benevolent Dolphins and Flange Sealing Training

In the mid-18th century, there was a common theory from sailors that dolphins are a mariner’s best friend.

Education

Extended Reality Tools Enhance Training

Training becomes increasingly critical as companies deal with the retirement of more and more knowledgeable, experienced staff.

Technical

Standards for Actuator/Gearbox Flanges

“Many variations in valve and actuator dimensions and characteristics have come into play especially now that we have worldwide vendors,” said Paul Souza, training manager at AUMA Actuators in a presentation at the Valve Manufacturers Association Virtual Valve Forum in November 2020.

View All #basics Articles