Gas valves ensure that the pressure and flow inside gas pipes are controlled and they are an essential component in the movement of natural gas, refined gas and crude oil. Read on to find out about six of the most commonly used types of gas valves.

Ball Valves

A ball valve uses a ball-shaped disc to control the flow of gas. It is classified as a rotational motion valve (quarter-turn ) and they are made out of a combination of metallics and Teflon. The use of these materials ensures that the ball valve is operational at a range of temperatures, usually between -200 degrees C and 500 degrees C.

ARC or ARV Valves

ARC or ARV stands for automatic recirculation control or automatic recirculation valve and they are used in centrifugal pumps to control the flow of gas. Control is an important factor in the gas valve industry and it is reported that the manufacture of gas valves is set to grow by up to 5% in the next 10 years

Butterfly Valves

Butterfly valves are used to start, stop and regulate the flow inside a pipe. They are usually easy to operate and come in large sizes which adequately deal with the drop in pressure or the recovery of high pressure.

Gate Valves

If you need a valve to operate in a straight line of piping with a lack of flow restriction, gate valves are the best choice. Gate valves start and stop the flow of gas but they cannot be quickly opened or closed.

Plug Valves

Plug valves are smaller than most of the other types of valves and they can turn off and on quickly. They use a cylindrical or tapered plug to stop the movement of gas. Covering a wide range of gas valves, specialists such as orseal.com/ can provide detailed information.

Pressure Seal Valves

If you need a valve to operate at a pressure level of 170 bar, pressure seal valves are the best option. They also have a ‘bonnet’ which works to seal the body joints if the pressure gets higher.