Valves

Valves: What are Valves?

Valves control the direction and quantity of a substance’s flow. In our bodies, valves direct the flow of blood. In industry, valves control the direction and amount of flow of gases, liquids, and even solid objects. In our homes, valves direct the flow of water, controlling its pressure and its direction of flow. Valves are almost always used as part of an entire system of pipes. They are a sort of gate or controlling force for the pipes and the substances that the pipes carry.

There are a number of valve types, some of which do some complex things. Gate valves, for example, are often used as part of a larger collection of pipes. They allow parts of the flow to be cut off entirely. For example, gate valves in your home can be used to cut off a part of the water flow from a certain length of pipe. This allows work to be done on the pipes without risk of flooding or waste or water. Once the work is done, the gate valves can be adjusted to allow normal flow of water again.

Butterfly valves work similarly to gate valves, by turning off the flow in pipes. They can also control the rate of flow in a pipe. Safety valves are sometimes called pressure relief valves. As their name suggests, they help prevent accidents and injuries. Especially important in long pipes, these valves prevent surges of flow and increased pressure that can affect the integrity of a pipe and cause a blockage or a burst pipe. These valves often work automatically, opening up in order to relieve pressure when pressure builds up.