19 Different Types of Valves Explained

Hello readers! In this post, we’ll talk about what a valve is, the different types of valves, and where we use them, with illustrations.

Without further ado, let’s start by discussing what a valve is.

What is a Valve?

In simple terms, a valve is a part inside a system that controls and regulates how fluid moves. It does this by opening, closing, or partly blocking the flow of a fluid for different reasons.

So, valves help manage how much fluid flows and how much pressure it has inside a system. Valves are key parts in piping systems because they control the flow of liquids, vapors, or gases.

They give us a reliable way to adjust the volume and pressure of gases or liquids moving through pipes.

Before you install a valve in a piping system, it’s important to know which type of valve fits your specific job.

In this blog post, we’ll look at some of the most common valve types used in piping and explain how you can use them for particular applications.

If you want to learn more about valves, keep reading.

Types of Valves

The following are the main types of valves:

Gate valve
Globe valve
Ball valve
Butterfly valve
Check valve
Plug valve
Needle valve
Pinch valve
Diaphragm valve
Solenoid valve
Control valve
Relief or pressure relief valve
Piston valve
Safety valve
Poppet valve
Rotary valve
Thermostatic mixing valve
Slide valve
Pressure regulating valve

#1. Gate Valve.

This valve works by lifting a gate or barrier out of the fluid’s path. People also call it a sluice valve.

It works by turning a disc (one disc or two discs) back and forth inside its body. This action shuts the flow on and off. Double-disc valves give especially good shutoff.

Gate valves often have stems that rise or stay fixed as the valve opens. They come in many sizes, from 12 mm to 300 mm and even bigger. When fully open, they sit compactly in the pipe and barely block the flow along the pipe’s center line.

Gate valves are light, affordable, and cause very little pressure drop. They can handle pressure up to 20 kg/cm² and temperature up to 675 °C.

Manufacturers build gate valves from cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, bronze, nickel alloys, and more.

There are various types of gate valves, including the following:

Solid Wedge Gate
Flexible Wedge Gate
Split wedge or Parallel disks Gate
OS & Y Gate, or (Rising Stem) gate valves

#1. Solid Wedge Gate.

The solid wedge disc valve is a crowd favorite. Plants use it a lot because it is tough and keeps things simple. You can install this valve almost anywhere, and it handles most fluids with ease. It even works well when the flow gets rough and turbulent.

#2. Flexible Wedge Gate.

A flexible wedge gate valve is a one-piece solid disc with a cut around its edge. These valves come in many shapes, sizes, and cut depths. Engineers use the flexible wedge design to fix problems that pop up with solid wedges. This design lines up the seat better and stops leaks more effectively.

#3. Split Wedge or Parallel Disks Gate.

Split wedges tackle issues found in both solid disc wedges and flexible wedge gates. They use two discs that sit parallel to each other. Most are spring-loaded and stay pressed against the gate seat, though some parallel split disks work without springs. People use them to control noncondensing gases and liquids at both low and high temperatures.

#4. OS & Y Gate Valve.

OS & Y stands for outside stem and yoke, or outside screw and yoke. This valve controls water flow to fire sprinkler systems. A gate inside moves up and down to open or close the path for water into and out of the valve.

#2. Globe Valve.

This is a globe valve, a type of valve used to control flow in a pipeline. It has a generally spherical body with a movable plug or disc and a stationary ring seat. It works by rotating a disc or plug back and forth.

The name “globe valve” comes from the spherical shape of the body. An internal baffle divides the body into two halves. An opening in that baffle forms a seat, and a movable plug screws into that seat to close the valve.

You can turn this valve on or off by hand, with a powered actuator, or automatically with a control system. Globe valves come in sizes from 12 mm up to 300 mm.

Their maximum operating temperature is 550°C, and their maximum operating pressure is 150 kg/cm². Manufacturers make globe valves from carbon steel, stainless steel, ductile iron, brass, and other corrosion‑resistant alloys.

Globe valves come in three different varieties:

Z types
Y types
Angle types

#1. Z Type.

The Z-type is the simplest globe valve design. Inside the valve body, a Z-shaped partition sits right in the flow path. Engineers designed these valves to cut down on manufacturing, installation, and maintenance headaches. Because they create a big pressure drop, you have to throttle Z-type valves to control the flow.

#2. Y Type.

Engineers invented the Y-type valve to fix the high pressure drop problem in Z-type valves. To solve the Z-type issue, they angled the seats at 45° relative to the pipe’s axis. This design lets Y-type valves handle high-pressure systems and many other demanding services.

#3. Angle Type.

These valves turn the fluid flow 90 degrees without needing an elbow fitting or an extra weld on the pipe. In this valve, the disc opens as it moves up and down. It can also handle the slugging effect that happens when globe valves see changing flow conditions.

#3. Ball Valve.

A ball valve controls how fluid flows through it using a hollow, perforated ball that pivots. The valve is open when its hole lines up with the flow inlet, and it is closed when the handle turns it 90 degrees to block the flow.

In a ball valve, a ball rotates between resilient seats inside a two-way globe. It is small, needs little maintenance, and does not need lubrication.

It comes in full, reduced, and venturi port patterns. You can rotate the ball a quarter turn to open or close the valve. The ball valve usually gives poor throttling.

They have wide applications in industries that process chemicals. It is used when you need both throttling and shutoff.

The valve comes in sizes from 6 mm to 900 mm. It works for temperatures and pressures up to 300 °C and 500 kg/cm, respectively.

There are various ball valve types, including:

Standard
Hydraulic
Flanged
Vented
Brass ball
PVC ball
Stainless steel ball valve

#4. Butterfly Valve.

The part that controls a butterfly valve is a disc, which people call a blade, vane, or flapper. This disc spins either horizontally or vertically to let fluid flow through. You can use these valves to turn flow on or off, or to fine-tune it when the pressure drop is low.

These valves cost less, install easily, and stop solids from building up inside. Butterfly valves come in two main styles: screw type and wafer type. Depending on the design, you can run them by hand, with electricity, or on automatic control.

Butterfly valves handle pressures up to about 80 kg/cm². Makers sell them in many sizes, starting at 50 mm and going all the way up to 900 mm.

Butterfly valves shine when you need to make quick, precise calls, like in chemical and petrochemical plants and in water treatment facilities.

You also see them a lot in HVAC systems, where fast action matters when temperatures shift or when you need to adjust air ventilation.

The types of butterfly valves are as follows:

Concentric Butterfly
Eccentric Butterfly
Wafer Type Butterfly
Lug Type Butterfly
Double Flange Butterfly

#5. Check Valve.

It’s also called a one-way valve or a foot valve. This valve only lets liquid or gas flow through it in one direction.

These valves are made from Inconel sheets because this material is strong and resists chemicals. That makes them a great fit for many industries around the world.

When you pair check valves with pressure relief systems, you get safer operation while keeping pressure and gas flow under control. These valves can handle both high-pressure and low-pressure situations. You can find check valves in both vertical and horizontal models.

The three different kinds of check valves are:

Lift check valve
Piston check valve
Swing check valve.

#1. Lift Check Valve.

This valve uses a disc, piston, or ball to check the flow. You can install it either horizontally or vertically. Lift check valves work well for small pipelines and places where you need to handle big pressure drops.

#2. Piston Check Valve.

The stem controls how the piston check valve works. These valves come in sizes from 6 mm to 600 mm, and you can run them by hand or with a motor. They handle temperatures up to 675 °C and pressures up to 170 kg/cm2.

#3. Swing Check Valve.

You’ll find this valve in spots where the fluid moves slowly and doesn’t change direction often. People commonly put them on the discharge side of pressure relief valves.

#6. Plug Valve.

Plug valves have cylindrical or cone-shaped plugs inside the valve body. You rotate these plugs to control how much flow goes through the valve. When you open the valve, fluid flows through hollow passageways that run sideways through the plugs.

Plug valves are easy to use and usually don’t cost much. They’re also lightweight, don’t need much space to install, and can handle a lot of flow. You’ll find them made from Inconel sheet, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel.

You can use them to handle pulp and slurries. If you need to change which way the flow goes, you can get plug valves with one or more openings. They come in both lubricated and unlubricated versions.

Plug valves come in sizes from 6 mm to 750 mm. They can take high temperatures up to 300 °C and pressures up to 300 kg/cm².

Plug valves come in four different types.

Lubricated Plug
Non-Lubricated Plug
Eccentric Plug
Expanding Plug

#1. Lubricated Plug.

Lubricated plug valves use a lubricant. This lubricant mixes a base oil with a viscosity improver to cut friction and seal the ports under pressure between the plug face and the seat body.

#2. Non-Lubricated Plug.

The non-lubricated plug has a tapered, cone-shaped cavity that presses against a polymeric sleeve and works like a wedge (chock). People choose non-lubricated plug valves for jobs that need very little maintenance.

#3. Eccentric Plug.

The eccentric plug valve handles jobs that need a stronger seating force and very low friction from open to close.

#4. Expanding Plug.

The expanding plug valve helps avoid product contamination when you do not need double isolation. This valve shields both seals from the flow path as it switches between open and closed positions.

#7. Needle Valve.

A needle valve has a tiny port and a threaded plunger shaped like a needle. It usually handles only a low flow rate, but it gives you precise control over the flow.

Needle valves do a great job controlling high-pressure liquids or gases, so they fit well in process piping systems.

Engineers use this valve for small, precise flows. The valve works in pressure and temperature ranges up to 260 C and 650 kg/cm, respectively.

Its size ranges from 3mm to 25mm. Using needle valves cuts down pressure fluctuations by controlling how air or hydraulic fluid moves.

#8. Pinch Valve.

Pinch valves are full-bore or fully ported control valves that stop fluid flow by pinching the flow path. You can use this valve for throttling and for on-off service.

The pinch valve costs little to install, has low pressure loss, and requires a small upfront cost. It works well when you handle solids, slurries, and liquids.

It solves corrosion and contamination problems because its operating mechanism stays completely isolated from the fluid. It uses replaceable sleeves made of rubber or plastic.

These valves can handle temperatures up to 250°C and pressures up to 20 kg/cm². Do not use these valves in vacuum conditions. Pinch valves use linear motion.

Pinch valve types include the following:

OM Mechanical Pinch Sleeves
OV Mechanical Pinch
VM Air Operated Pinch
VF Air Operated Pinch
VT Air Operated Tanker Pinch
VMF Air Operated Pinch
VMP Air Operated Pinch

#9. Diaphragm Valve.

Basically, diaphragm valves consist of a valve body with two or more ports, a flexible diaphragm, and a seat or weir where the diaphragm closes to stop flow. The valve body can be made of plastic, metal, wood, or another material, depending on what you need it for.

You’ll find two types of diaphragm valves: weir type and straight-through type. Weir-type diaphragm valves need relatively low thrust and short shut-off strokes, which helps the diaphragm last longer. The straight-through type handles slurries, viscous liquids, and fibrous suspensions with ease.

The diaphragm itself is made of rubber, neoprene, or Buna. You can get these valves in sizes from 3 mm to 600 mm. They handle pressures up to 20 kg/cm² and temperatures up to 220°C.

#10. Solenoid Valve

Solenoid valves come in different types based on the electric current they use, the strength of the magnetic field, and the mechanism that regulates the fluid. The mechanism can be linear action, pivoted-armature actuators, rocker actuators, or plunger-type actuators.

This valve has two ports to control a flow and three or more ports to switch flows between different paths.

Solenoid valves are the most common control mechanism in fluidics. You use them to turn off, release, dose, distribute, or mix fluids.

You’ll find them in many different applications. Solenoids offer plenty of benefits, including fast and safe switching, high reliability, long service life, good compatibility with different materials, low control power, and a compact design.

#11. Control Valve

The control valve changes the size of the flow passage based on a signal from a controller, which lets you control fluid flow. It gives you direct control over flow rate, and as a result, you can also control pressure, temperature, and liquid level in the process.

The actuator and body are the two main parts of a control valve. The actuator picks up signals from the process and opens or closes the valve accordingly.

Control valves can have a butterfly or diaphragm design, or they can use single or double-balanced globe plugs.

Control valves come in sizes from 3 mm to 500 mm. They handle pressures up to 4000 kg/cm² and temperatures from 250°C to 800°C.

#12. Safety Valve

A safety valve acts as an emergency shutoff valve. A pressure relief valve (PRV) is one example, and it releases a substance when pressure or temperature goes above a set threshold.

A pilot-operated relief valve is a specific type of pressure safety valve. Engineers first created safety valves during the Industrial Revolution for steam boiler use. The early boilers that didn’t use them were much more likely to explode.

You’ll find safety valves in many applications, such as boilers, pressure vessels, and piping systems. The main drawback is that a safety valve may malfunction if you don’t maintain it properly.

#13. Relief Or Pressure Relief Valve

This type of valve controls or limits the pressure in a system. Without it, excessive pressure could cause a process upset, instrument failure, explosion, or fire.

It protects against potential harm, reduces equipment failure, and regulates pressure in a system by providing a point of release. You can turn relief valves on or off manually or automatically.

These valves serve as an essential safety component in many industrial and commercial applications. The drawback is that relief valves may not always work well when the system experiences overpressure or temperature spikes.

The types of pressure relief valves are as follows:

Spring-loaded pressure relief,
Balanced Bellows and Balanced Piston valves
Safety relief
Pilot-operated pressure relief and
Power-actuated pressure relief

#14. Piston Valve.

A piston valve uses the straight-line motion of a piston inside a chamber or cylinder to control how fluid moves through a pipe. When fully open or fully closed, it turns steam, gas, and other fluids on or off.

These valves give you strong control. Because the piston moves past sealing packs as it opens and closes, they also work with liquids that carry solid particles. They handle gases well too.

The piston valve has a full port made of forged steel. Its maximum operating pressure is 135 bar (1973 psi), and its maximum operating temperature is 427°C (800°F).

#15. Poppet Valve

A poppet valve does more than control the timing and amount of gas or vapor that flows into or out of an engine.

It has a plug, usually shaped like a disc at the end of a shaft called the valve stem, and a round or oval hole or open-ended chamber.

The working end of the plug, called the valve face, is ground at a 45° angle so it seals against a valve seat cut into the rim of the chamber. The valve passes through a valve guide that keeps the shaft centered.

Compared to other engine valve types, poppet valves give you faster response, more performance, lower friction, less trouble from contamination, and lower cost.

#16. Rotary Valve

A rotary valve controls the flow of liquid or gas through connected pipes by rotating one or more passages in a crosswise plug. The simplest rotary valve is a stopcock.

Its advantages include much higher compression ratios and rpm, which means more power, a smaller and lighter cylinder head, and less complexity, so you get better reliability and lower cost.

You mainly find these valves in the Corliss steam engine, where they regulate the steam and exhaust ports of steam engines. They also change the pitch of brass instruments. You most often see them in two-stroke and four-stroke engines.

#17. Thermostatic Mixing Valve

A thermostatic mixing valve mixes hot and cold water to keep shower and bath outlet temperatures steady and safe, so you do not get burned.

A wax thermostat usually controls these valves. They also shut down fast if the hot or cold supply fails, which helps prevent scalding or heatstroke.

A TMV works by holding a set temperature, so you can take relaxing showers without worrying about getting scalded or frozen.

TMVs can cost more to install than standard faucets or showers. Like any mechanical device, TMVs have a shorter lifespan.

You can sort these water temperature controls into three main groups: Heat Source, Group Control, and Point-of-Use.

#18. Slide Valve

A slide valve is a straight-line valve that controls the flow of steam into a steam engine cylinder and the exhaust out of it.

In this valve, the upper and lower valves connect by a rod or spindle, and the stem or tube between them is hollow, so the upper end of the cylinder acts as an induction pipe. This lets two valves do the work of four.

This valve is lightweight, has no wedging action, and has a short overall length. It is simple to power slide valves. The power industry uses large slide valves in main steam and feed lines to isolate different parts of the plant.

#19. Pressure Regulating Valve

A pressure regulating valve controls fluid pressure by using negative feedback from the pressure it controls. These valves manage the flow of gases and liquids.

They can be separate pressure sensors, controllers, and flow valves, or they can be a single device that combines a pressure setting, a restrictor, and a sensor in one body.

You can split pressure regulating valves into two types: back-pressure regulators and pressure reduction regulators.

Pressure-reducing regulators lower the input pressure of a fluid to a set value at the output. Back-pressure regulators hold the set pressure at the inlet by opening to allow flow when the inlet pressure rises above the set point.

Engineers design these valves to stay clog-free and to install easily. They can include automatic high-pressure control. People typically use a pressure regulator to protect electric heaters, hot water storage tanks, and appliances.