Regulating Valves

forCirculating WaterWater, whether artificially or naturally circulated, is invaluable in many utility and general service applications.Valves are used to control the amount and pressure of the circulating water, regulating water flow to and from a variety of equipment. Their components usually include a body, a disc, a stem and a seal mechanism. Valves come in different shapes and sizes, depending on the application and their intended use. They are available in a wide range of materials, from steel to plastic, and may use a variety of connection types, such as threaded, flanged and capsule.Valves for circulating water generally use a two-way or three-way design and are used to control the flow of water. Two-way valves can open and close in two directions, allowing for the selection of on or off flow. Three-way valves in turn allow for the selection of flow from either one of two sources into a single output. They are often used to regulate temperature in HVAC applications or prevent water hammer.Pressure regulating valves are also used, usually to reduce the incoming water pressure stream to a lower, safer, pressure. These valves typically have adjustable pressure settings and use a ‘bleed-off’ design to lower the pressure. Pressure relief valves are also available and are used to reduce or limit the maximum pumping pressure in a system.As well as regulating the pressure, various other valves are used in water circulation systems. Gate valves, check valves and butterfly valves are all commonly used. Gate valves are generally designed to be used in quick-opening / closing applications, such as pipelines and vessels. Check valves are used to prevent backflow and avoid contamination. Butterfly valves, which feature a disk-like wheel that constantly rotates to modulate the flow of water, are used in applications where pressure and flow are to be precisely controlled.Finally, it’s worth noting that many valves in circulation systems may require seals to ensure proper operation. These seals are available in a variety of materials and geometries, and generally need to be replaced periodically to preserve an effective operation.