The Types Of Valves Used In Wastewater Treatment Plants

Access to clean, safe water is vital to the survival of human civilization. Due to the current climate crisis, the sustainable management of water has become more crucial than ever.

Wastewater treatment facilities play a significant role in these critical systems. When it comes to wastewater piping systems, wastewater valves play an integral role and do a lot of work. A wastewater valve is an element that controls the flow and pressure of fluids like liquids and gases.

Different wastewater valves types allow varying amounts of fluids to move through them. The different types of wastewater valves range from simple to complex. Flow meters and temperature gauges control wastewater valves.

If you are interested in learning more about the wastewater treatment industry, you need to know the different wastewater valves types and their functions.

What Are the Different Wastewater Valves Types?

The different types of wastewater valves include ball valves, butterfly valves, gate valves, check valves, globe valves, and plug valves. Let’s take a look at the different functions and features of each one in detail.

Ball Valves

Ball valves are quarter-turn valves that use rotating ported spheres inside the pipe to block and allow the flow of fluids—basically, a ball containing a hole. With the valve open, the ball allows the fluid to pass through.

A ball valve controls pressure and flow. They stop the flow of fluid from a compressed air line to a high-pressure hydraulic system. Ball valves are leak-proof and easy to operate. To close or open the valve requires only a 90-degree turn.

Ball valves are the most low-maintenance, compact, cost-efficient, and simple valves to use. You will often find them in the oil and natural gas industries and manufacturing and chemical storage.

Butterfly Valves

A butterfly valve is a type of quarter-turn valve, similar to a ball valve. It uses a series of center-mounted circular flaps that open and close the pipe.

The handle of a butterfly valve is attached to the stem. The stem is attached to a disc inside the valve. If you turn the handle, the disc rotates to open or close the valve. You will see butterfly-type disc valves in use to regulate water supply at power plants and process plants. They are also common in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries.

Butterfly valves are excellent for shutting off and regulating fluids. A butterfly valve is also a great choice if you have a pipe with a large diameter.

The downside of butterfly valves is they can cause pressure drops due to the disc being inside of the valve. The benefits of a butterfly valve are that it is compact, lightweight, and takes up very little room.

Butterfly valves get classified in three different ways, according to their orientation. The classifications include concentric, double eccentric, and triple eccentric.

Gate Valves

The primary use for a gate valve is as a shut-off valve. This means they block or prevent the flow of fluid. They are also great for fluid regulation.

To operate a gate valve, twist the top handle to raise or lower the gate. Throttling has shown to damage the disc, so experts recommended that gate valves be used only for starting or halting the flow of fluids.

A gate valve uses a plate barrier that gets lowered into the flow stream when needed to stop the flow of fluid. They are best suited for isolation. This means they are intended to either be completely open or closed.

Gate valves work well with air, liquid, and steam. But, they are most commonly the main shutoff valve for wastewater.

Check Valves

A check valve only allows fluid to move in a single direction. A check valve is comprised of a double-door valve that employs two half-circle gates to control the flow. Pressure from the flow of fluid is used to open the disc.

Check valves are the best option in high-pressure situations and do not work well for low-pressure. Because they only allow fluid to pass in one direction, they automatically prevent backflow. If the rate of flow decreases or starts to reverse, the disc closes automatically.

The benefit of check valves is that they are self-automated. This is not a characteristic of any other type of valve. They are ideal for using near pumps and processors, which require protection from back flow.

Globe Valves

Globe valves are sphere shaped. They have two halves, and those halves are separated from one another by an internal baffle.

Their globe-shaped discs limit the flow of fluid. Globe valves are a prevalent type of valve capable of starting, stopping, and regulating the flow of fluids. They are much less likely to leak than other types of valves.

Globe valves are best for shutoff and regulation in facilities for food processing and wastewater plants and processing plants. You may also see them regulating fuel oil systems, cooling water systems, boilers, vents, and drains.

Plug Valves

A plug valve is similar to a ball valve. They are quarter-turn valves that use a ported plug that swivels open and closed to stop or start the flow of fluid.

Plug valves make great shutoff valves. You will see them at processing plants, wastewater treatment facilities, and in the chemical processing industry.

Non-Return Valve

A non-return valve is another valve that only allows fluid to flow in a single direction. They are also helpful for conditions where the prevention of back flow is critical.

Non-return valves come in many different varieties. These varieties include spring-loaded, swing, and clapper types.

Pressure Relief Valve

A pressure relief valve is often called a safety relief valve. They open at a specific, predetermined level of pressure. Then, they release the excess pressure from the valve.

The two types of pressure relief valves available are direct-acting dead-weight pressure relief valves and direct-acting spring valves.

Solenoid Valve

A solenoid valve uses electromagnetic actuators to open and close the flow of fluid. They are most often used in pneumatic and hydraulic systems.

Best Wastewater Valves

The varieties of wastewater valves types range from quarter-turn valves such as ball, butterfly, and plug valves to single-direction flow valves like check valves, non-return valves, and solenoid valves.

Everlasting Valve’s products can be used in wastewater treatment plants. They last longer than the average wastewater valve. Check out their line of products and request a free quote today.