All About the Plug Valve

 

A plug valve is basically a quarter-turn manual valve that uses a tapered or cylindrical plug to allow or prevent straight-through flow via the body. This plug has a direct-through full port opening. Plug valve can be employed in on-off, diverting services, and basic, moderate throttling.

Applications of Plug Valves

Plug Valves are the most in-demand valves and have various uses, such as the following.

1. These valves are commonly used in low-pressure-low-temperature services, but some high-pressure-high-temperature structures also exist.
2. They are the high-capacity valves employed for directional flow control, even in moderate vacuum systems.
3. Plug valves can efficiently manage liquid and gas fuel.
4. Plug valves can safely take care of extreme temperature flow, such as condensate, boiler feedwater, and other such elements.
5. Plug valves can also be used to control the flow of liquids containing suspended solids, such as slurries.

Advantages of Plug Valves

The Plug Valves have myriad benefits to offer, like the following.

1. These valves have a simple assembly with few components.
2. Plug valves close and open easily (except large dimensions).
3. The repair and maintenance of plug valves can be done at the place of operation.
4. These valves also have a low flow resistance.
5. Plug valves are also leak-proof.

Types of Plug Valves

The plug valves are categorized into the following types.

Lubricated Plug Valve

As the name indicates, a lubricated valve employs a lubricant usually made up of a base oil and viscosity improver (like fumed silica or amorphous) that is injected under pressure between the body seat and plug face to minimalize friction and seal ports.

Non-Lubricant Plug Valve

Non-lubricated plug valves are usually employed instead of lubricated ones in applications where maintenance requirements need to be kept to a minimum, such as special services in Sulphur, hydrogen fluoride, or where liquids could be solidified or trapped and potentially jam the valve.

Eccentric Plug Valve

This plug valve structure has a half plug that is useful for applications needing a higher seating force with slight friction from open to close position. The China plug valve manufacturers provide these valves for a wide range of isolation and flow control applications, such as clean and dirty water, sludge and slurries, sewage, air, and other services.