Valves, Pressure Rating and 5 Tips to consider before Procuring

Valves play a critical role in regulating, directing, and controlling the flow of liquids, gases, and slurries. Among the key specifications to consider when selecting a valve, pressure rating is one of the most important factors that ensures operational safety, performance, and durability

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What is Valve Pressure Rating?

The pressure rating of a valve defines the maximum pressure it can handle under normal operating conditions without compromising its structural integrity. It is usually expressed in terms like PN (Nominal Pressure), PSI (Pounds per Square Inch), or Class (e.g., Class 150, 300) as per standards such as ASME, DIN and etc.

The pressure rating is determined by several factors, including:
• Material composition: The ability of materials (like stainless steel, cast iron, or alloys) to withstand pressure.
• Temperature: Higher operating temperatures reduce the allowable pressure due to various reason.
• Design: The geometry of the valve (e.g., wall thickness, shape of valve body etc.) impacts its strength.

Why is Valve Pressure Rating Important?

Operational Safety

Selecting a valve with the wrong pressure rating can lead to catastrophic failures like leakage, ruptures, or explosions. Ensuring that the valve matches the system’s pressure requirements mitigates these risks.

Performance and Efficiency

Valves that operate below their rated pressure provide reliable performance and maintain system efficiency. Overloaded valves may fail prematurely, leading to downtime and costly repairs.

Compliance with Standards

Many industries, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, mandate adherence to specific pressure ratings as per regulatory and safety standards. Choosing compliant valves avoids legal or operational penalties.

Longevity

Proper pressure ratings ensure that valves operate within their limits, extending their lifespan and reducing replacement costs over time.

Adaptability in Dynamic Systems

In systems where pressure fluctuations are common, a higher-rated valve can handle surges without compromising performance.

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5 Tips to consider before Procurement

Procuring Industrial Valves, consider 5 Tips from IPC before floating a RFQ

1. Understand System Requirements

Before selecting a valve, thoroughly analyse your system’s pressure and temperature conditions. Every industrial setup operates within a defined range of pressure and temperature. Matching the valve’s pressure rating with these conditions ensures that the valve can handle the operational loads effectively.

2. Evaluate Application Needs

Consider the nature of your application and how the valve will be used. For example Steady-state applications (e.g., water distribution) a standard pressure-rated valve may suffice, However, Dynamic systems (e.g., oil and gas pipelines) Valves need to handle pressure surges or fluctuations with extreme reliability. Applications with abrasive or corrosive media may also require specialized materials or coatings to maintain performance.

3. Verify Standards and Certifications

Industrial valves are governed by strict standards, as per your industry such as API and ISO. Ensuring that the valve you procure adheres to these standards is critical. For example:
• Safety: Properly certified valves are rigorously tested to perform under specified pressure and temperature conditions.
• Compliance: Many industries, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, require mandatory certification to meet safety regulations.
IPC Valves, for instance, ensures its products are fully compliant, giving buyers confidence in their selection.

4. Consult with Experts

Valve selection can be complex, especially in high-risk or customized applications. Consulting with valve manufacturers or technical experts can help buyers. Manufacturers like IPC Valves provide technical guidance to help you select the right valve for your application, minimizing risks.

5. Check for Material Compatibility

Beyond pressure and temperature, ensure the valve material is suitable for the media being handled. Materials like stainless steel, cast iron, or alloys perform differently depending on the substance (e.g., water, steam, oil, or corrosive chemicals). For instance:
• Corrosive environments (chemical plants): Valves may require corrosion-resistant materials like stainless steel or Hastelloy.
• High-temperature systems (steam pipelines): Alloys that maintain strength under heat are essential.
Using the wrong material can cause wear, corrosion, or even valve failure, leading to system downtime and costly repairs.

Get in touch with IPC valves to know more

We all know distributors are a valuable resource for end-users of fluid power products, often providing local, on-site, customer support. Closer to end-users than manufacturers, their customers should be able to rely on that local support.

To help provide that support, knowledge about the products they sell helps to meet the support needs of their customers/end-users. Fluid power distributors can take what they learn about customers’ specific pumps, motors, and valves, and put that knowledge to use for their clients. If you are a distributor and your end-users can benefit from knowing more about the products you offer, this article is for you.

As pumps and motors are responsible for supplying power and energy within a hydraulic system, valves are the mechanical devices used to control that power by regulating the flow of fluid.

They can be used to redirect pressurized fluid, control the level of flow to a certain area, or completely close a line.

Although there are dozens of varieties that all serve different purposes, in this article, we will focus on these three major types of hydraulic valves:

• Pressure Control Valves
• Flow Control Valves
• Directional Control Valves

Each type has its own functions within a fluid power system and applications in which they provide the ideal result. Each hydraulics brand provides various configuration choices based on valve type. Acquainting yourself with these differences can be useful when offering clients support on valve-related issues.

If you are looking to provide guidance when your customer has a question or a problem, or if they’re asking you to consult on purchase decisions more confidently, we recommend starting with basic knowledge of how pressure control valves, flow control valves, and directional flow valves operate.

Pressure Control Valves

Hydraulic pressure control valves are used to regulate the fluid pressure that is passing through hydraulic systems and prevent rises in pressure that may result in system problems. They are also used to maintain a set pressure in a part of a hydraulic circuit.

Different types of pressure control valves include:

• Pressure relief valves
• Pressure Reducing valves
• Sequence valves
• Counterbalance valves

Hydraulic relief valves limit system pressure to protect components. The valves also limit the hydraulic system’s maximum output force and control the amount of heat generated by balancing the hydraulic force with an adjustable spring force.

Pressure reducing valves are used to balance hydraulic circuit pressure with pressure in the main circuit. When the outlet pressure reaches a preset level, the valve opens, a piston moves to release pressure, and it keeps the outlet pressure constant.

Sequence valves are used to control the sequential operation of actuators. If the inlet pressure exceeds a preset level, they add pressure to the outlet side. A check valve allows for this directional control.

Counterbalance valves are used to maintain hydraulic pressure or load backpressure on a cylinder by releasing flow levels to keep pressure constant. Like sequence valves, they use a check valve to provide a counterbalance of flow, lifting the cylinder up to freely pass.

Flow Control Valves

Hydraulic flow control valves do what they say: They control flow rates in hydraulic circuits, with an end goal of controlling speed elsewhere in a fluid power system.

In hydraulic systems, these valves are used to regulate flow rates to actuators, such as motors and cylinders, and with it the speed of those components.

Flow rate also determines rate of energy transfer at any given pressure. A common physics concept is used to determine this transfer:

Actuator force x distance traveled = work done on load

This equation shows that the actuator force, multiplied by the distance through which it moves (stroke), equals the work done on the load. The energy transferred must also equal the work done, and speed determines the energy transferred.

In other words, regulating speed is the primary function of flow control valves because:

Energy transfer must equal work done, and is determined by multiplying force times stroke
Speed determines the amount of energy transferred
Flow rates determine the speed of an actuator

There are a variety of flow control valve designs, each intended for specific applications. The most common types include ball, diaphragm, needle, and butterfly.

Directional Control Valves

Directional control valves have three main functions: to stop fluid flow, to allow fluid flow, or to change direction of fluid flow between hydraulic cylinders and motors.

They typically consist of a sliding spool inside a cylinder, which restricts or permits fluid flow to control the fluid path. They can also consist as a poppet to control flow, which works in the same way.

Directional control valves can stop the flow suddenly and are sometimes referred to as either “switching” or “bang-bang” valves for the sound they make when operating.

There are two other types of directional valves that can control fluid flow in more complicated hydraulics systems:

1. Proportional valves -Allow infinite positioning of spools and flow volumes for more complex circuits
2. Servo valves - Operate with high accuracy, repeatability, low hysteresis, and high frequency response for sophisticated loop systems (and are often more expensive than proportional valves)

More Product Knowledge to Steer Satisfied Customers

In summary, hydraulic valves provide the control needed to keep hydraulic systems working. They act as the steering wheel to guide the moving parts of a functional hydraulics system.

And whether they are used to control flow by redirecting pressurized fluid (pressure control valves), controlling the level of flow and speed (flow control valves), or completely stopping the directional flow (directional control valves), knowing about different types of valves and their intended function can be a great tool to help you support your customer’s individual needs.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Pressure Control Valve Manufacturer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Knowing the basics of different components and how they work is the key to offering this guidance, and to provide a valuable resource to your customers / end users.