As with any product, it’s crucial to identify the type of valve, the manufacturer, inlet/outlet size, operating and maximum pressures, solution temperature, and the solution passing through the valve.  It’s critical to know what solution is passing through the valve to ensure proper chemical compatibility.  Knowing the solution’s PH level can also be another important factor when determining suitable components and materials.

How to choose a valve?

Before selecting your valve, you will need to determine. Will it be used to regulate a fluid or stop its flow?

It is necessary to verify the media that will circulate in the system is it a gas or a liquid? Is the media corrosive, chemically neutral, a food product, or a medical fluid that requires special hygiene conditions?

When it comes to the operation system of the valve it is important to know whether it is powered manually or automatically. In one case, someone must be on-site to operate the valve, while in the other case, the valves can be operated remotely, from a control station for example.

Finally, it is important to know how the valve will be integrated into the system and the type of assembly or installation used, especially if it needs to be welded, bolted through flanges, or screwed in.

Once you have determined these different elements, you can focus on the technical characteristics of your installation, in particular the flow and pressure that will allow you to determine the dimensions of your valve.

How to calculate the dimensions of your valve?

• The pressure is an essential factor to take into account, on the one hand, so as not to undersize your valve and expose you to problems of leakage or rupture of the valve, and on the other hand to avoid over-sizing it.
• You must identify the operating temperature, i.e. the temperature of the circulating media, as well as the ambient temperature around the valve body. It is important to know the extreme temperature the valve will have to undergo to be able to choose a valve designed to operate under these conditions, in particular about the materials used for the manufacture of the body, the closure system, and the sealing parts.
• The operating pressure, i.e. the pressure the media circulates at in the valve.
• The fluid flow rate and the flow velocity. Flow rate and nominal speed are essential elements that will help you choose the appropriate valve, especially if it is to be used to regulate this flow rate. The flow factor (Kv) is a theoretical value defined by the manufacturer that allows the nominal flow rate of the valve to be calculated. It can be indicated in liters per minute (l/min) or in cubic meters per hour (m3/h). Valve manufacturers offer charts to determine this factor based on the desired flow rate and nominal diameter.
• The nominal diameter(DN) of the circuit where the valve is. This is vital to avoid over-sizing the valve, which could lead to unstable operation of the installation, or under-sizing it which could lead to a significant pressure drop and rapid damage to the valve.