Besides the common designed valves, there are also some special valves widely used in the industry piping system. For example, diaphragm valves, steam traps, pinch valves etc.

Diaphragm Valve:The diaphragm valve gets its name from the construction and closure parts. There is a valve body and an elastomericdiaphragm to work together to finish its function. It is also called membrane valves because of the working principle. It is a new type of industry valve comes from the technology development. The diaphragm valve is used as a shut-off valve usually. Besides the valve body and diaphragm, there is also “weir or saddle” or seat upon which the diaphragm closes the valve. The biggest difference between diaphragm valve and other valves is that the opening and closing part of valve is soft material.

Steam traps:A steam trap is a typeofindustryvalve whichisdesigned to sense the difference between steam and condensate, and drain the condensate from the piping system. Steam traps allow only condensate and gases to be discharged from the steam, the steam left will pass through the steam traps to provide heat and power to the system.

CONDENSATE (water): Any time steam releases its latent heat energy, the steam converts back into liquid. This water is referred to as condensate. GAS(air): Before the steam is turned on, and the system is cold, air/gas will exist in all of the pipes and process equipment. This air must be removed from the entire system to allow the steam to enter.

Pinch Valve: A pinch valve is a full port valve which has a flex-body valve with a flexible tube that can be pushed together or “pinched” mechanically through a mechanism or through fluid pressure to create a full closure of the flow path. The flow passage of these valves is straight without crevices and moving parts. The soft body of the pinch valves has the ability to seal around the trapped solids.  It is designed to shut off or control the flow of corrosive, abrasive or granular media. It utilizes pressurized air to open or close the valve. In the open position, the valve has no restrictions and allows a wide range of media to pass through the bore.

Diaphragm Valve Section

Pinch Valve

Steam Trap