It is undeniable that valves are often ignored. However, their uses and applications are quite varied. You can actually find them anywhere. They can be in your home, under the city streets, water lines, and power plants.
Without high-quality valves, the operation of various systems won’t take place. It is for these reasons as to why these implements are commonly found in the following industries.
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Industries That Are Heavily Reliant On Valves
Valve manufacturing has been an integral service for various valve industries. Technically and operationally speaking, industrial valve manufacturers are business partners of several industries, facilities, and plants all over the world. Of course, these applications require different valve specifications and designs.
Valve manufacturers utilize various technologies to design, fabricate, and test their products. These technologies contribute to improving efficiency, precision, and quality in the valve manufacturing process.
For instance, valve manufacturers have integrated tube laser cutting for intricate and precise metal tube cuts across diverse industries. This method revolutionizes complex shaping, hole creation, and design processes, ensuring greater production efficiency. Moreover, tube laser cutting employs potent laser beams to achieve exceptional precision when cutting metal tubes. Industries benefiting from tube laser cutting include automotive, aerospace, architecture, medical equipment, furniture, and energy production.
Additive manufacturing allows valve manufacturers to create prototypes, molds, and final valve components using various materials, including metals and plastics. It offers design flexibility and can be particularly useful for creating complex geometries. On the other hand, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software are crucial for designing valve components and creating toolpaths for machining or other fabrication processes.
Filament Element Analysis (FEA) software helps simulate and analyze valve components’ behavior under different conditions, ensuring structural integrity and performance. Valve manufacturers use automated assembly systems to streamline the process, reduce errors, and improve consistency. But what are the top industries that heavily rely on valves? Find out more below.
Power Industries
High-speed turbines and fossil fuels are the key elements that enable steam power plants to generate electricity. In this particular application, gate valves are often seen. In some instances, power plants tend to use other types of valves, such as the Y-pattern globe valves.
Recently, we have been seeing the growth of critical service ball-valves. This development is quite interesting, as power plants are often dominated by linear valves.
Regardless of the type of valve being used, power plants require that these valves and piping have excellent construction. They have to be robust so that they can accommodate extreme pressure and temperature.
Hence, it is not surprising for power plant operators to secure the provisions of reputable valve manufacturers.
Offshore Industries
Production plants and facilities in offshore locations have high demands when it comes to structural integrity. For instance, oil rigs have complex piping systems that include a number of valves of different types and materials. This sophisticated variation is essential to ensure that there’s stable and optimal flow control in the oil rigs.
The heart of oil production facilities is their oil/gas recovery piping system. But most of the time, this particular system isn’t always positioned above the sea. They are typically placed underwater, with depths of at least 10,000 feet. Of course, for this setup to be possible, rigid materials are essential. The valves should be able to withstand low temperatures and high pressures.
Without these oil power plants, our society would eventually collapse. Keep in mind that many industries, machines, and equipment are reliant on oil and gas.
Water Works
Valves are also commonly used in water distribution facilities. In most waterworks, such as collecting rainwater by installing a water butt, ambient temperatures and low-pressure levels are required. Maintaining these operational specifications isn’t easy if these facilities don’t have specialized valves.
For example, to maintain the ambient temperature of water, elastomers and rubber seals are essential. These materials are required to be used in water valves so that they can create tight seals and prevent leakages.
Valves in water distribution facilities only handle pressure less than 200 psi. Therefore, these valves don’t need to have thick walls and pressure-resistant designs.
Underground Pipelines
It is crucial for underground pipelines to be properly labeled to avoid accidents. But of course, these pipes and valves used on pipelines have rigid architecture, as well. They need to withstand the elements. Those pipelines submerged underwater are thick and pressure-resistant. They should also be impervious to the elements.
Numerous valves are used on these sites. An example of these valves is shutoff valves. They are strategically placed in intervals and remain compliant with various pipeline laws and codes. By the way, these emergency valves can separate a particular part of a pipeline. It is an essential function so that operators can conduct maintenance and repairs. It is also a mechanism for preventing leaks.
Wastewater Facilities
Wastewater lines function by collecting solid and liquid waste from homes, buildings, and other structures. The pipes redirect the waste to a designated sewage treatment plant. In these plants, valves are also being used. Specifically, low-pressure valves and pipe systems are being utilized by treatment plants. The demand isn’t that high as compared to other industries. Hence, it is alright to opt for standard, non-specialized valves.
In a sewage treatment plant, iron gates and check valves are ubiquitous. Notably, the construction of these valves must meet the requirements of local or federal waterworks standards.
Commercial Buildings
You may not notice it, but there are a lot of fluid valves that are placed within and under commercial buildings. These arteries are important since they are the ones that accommodate the lines for electricity and water. For water alone, a mixture of piping systems is needed. There should be a separate system of hot water, fire prevention, waste water, and grey water.
Fire water systems require valves that can withstand high pressures. After all, pressurized water passes through them. In fact, government regulations and building codes have specifications when it comes to these fire water systems.
Conclusion
Overall, you can see that industrial valves and pipes are crucial for the operation of various industries. Without these implements, essential services and basic goods won’t be processed or delivered to you.
Contractors and project proponents need to prioritize acquiring high-quality valves for their buildings and facilities. For those who want to export XHVA valves, you might need to acquire the service of a reputable China freight forwarder to ensure that the items are delivered safely and timely.
