The Types, Function Characteristics and Applications of Flow Control Valves
I. What is a flow control valve?
A flow control valve is a valve that can control the flow rate and volume of the fluid in a pipeline.It mainly includes throttle valves, speed control valves, and composite valves which is a combination of overflow valves and throttle valves, etc. It regulates the flow volume in the pipeline by changing the valve opening or the position of the valve core, thereby controlling the flow velocity and volume of the fluid. Flow control valves are widely used in industries such as industry, chemical engineering, petroleum, natural gas, water treatment, and environmental protection.
II. Classification of flow control valves.
According to different control methods and structures, flow control valves can be classified into five categories:
- Manual flow control valve: The flow is regulated by manually rotating or moving the valve.
- Electric flow control valve: The motor is driven by an external power source or a built-in battery to control the valve opening and regulate the flow.
- Pneumatic flow control valve: The valve opening is controlled by an external air source or built-in compressed air to regulate the flow.
- Hydraulic flow control valve: The valve opening is controlled by an external water source or a built-in hydraulic system to regulate the flow.
- Regulating valve: It is a flow control valve that can automatically regulate the flow. It can automatically adjust the valve opening according to parameters such as the fluid pressure, temperature, and flow volume in the pipeline, thus achieving stable control of the flow.
According to different functions, flow control valves can be classified into three categories:
1.Throttle Valve.
A throttle valve is a valve that controls the fluid flow rate by changing the throttling cross section or the throttling length. By connecting a throttle valve and a check valve in parallel, a one way throttle valve can be formed. When a throttle valve and a sequence valve are connected in parallel, a one way sequence throttle valve is formed. These combined valves have a wide range of applications in industrial settings and can effectively control the flow rate and direction of the fluid.
2.Speed Control Valve.
A speed control valve is a combination valve composed of a fixed differential pressure reducing valve and a throttle valve connected in series. The throttle valve is used to regulate the flow rate passing through it, while the fixed differential pressure reducing valve automatically compensates for changes in the load’s influence, maintaining a constant pressure difference across the throttle valve and eliminating the impact of load changes on flow rate stability. Speed control valves are widely used in hydraulic systems that require precise flow rate control, such as machine tools, metallurgical equipment, construction machinery, etc.
3.Overflow throttle valve.
Another type of flow control valve is a composite valve composed of a overflow valve and a throttle valve. This valve can maintain the stability of the system pressure while precisely controlling the fluid flow rate. When the system pressure reaches the set value of the overflow valve, the overflow valve will open and discharge the excess fluid back to the oil tank, thus keeping the system pressure constant. At the same time, the throttle valve is responsible for regulating the flow rate passing through the valve to meet the requirements of different working conditions.
III. How does a flow control valve work?
The working principle of the flow control valve is to regulate the flow velocity and flow volume of the fluid in the pipeline by changing the valve opening. Generally speaking, the larger the valve opening, the larger the flow volume; conversely, the smaller the opening, the smaller the flow volume.
In practical applications, the flow control can also achieve intelligent control by cooperating with other control devices (such as sensors, regulators, etc.).
IV. Application scenarios of the flow control valve.
Flow control valves are widely used in the industrial field and are involved in various fluid processing scenarios. The following are some common application scenarios:
- Flow control in the chemical production process.
- Flow control in the hydraulic system.
- Flow control in the water treatment industry.
- Flow control in the sewage treatment system.
- Flow control in natural gas and petroleum pipelines.
- Flow control in the food and beverage production process.
Obviously flow control valves play an important role in industrial production. They can help enterprises achieve refined management, improve production efficiency, reduce production costs, enhance product quality, and ensure production safety.
