What is a Plug Valve and When is it Used?

Plug Valve Basics 

A plug valve is shaped like a chamber or cone and can be rotated inside the valve body to control the stream of liquids. Plug valves have at least one empty passageways regularly placed horizontally to allow ease of movement through the valve when open. The most widely recognized kind of plug valve is the 2 port model with an open and shut position. The two ports are usually located on opposite sides of the valve with one passageway leading from inbound to outbound and the stem and handle located on the top. A plug valve also utilizes a quarter-turn valve, which is valuable where snappy and continuous operation is essential. The valve finishes can be flanged, center point type, or butt weld. 

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Plug Valve Types and Their Uses :

Although there are many sorts of plug valves, there are four general categories, each with their own benefits. 

  1. Lubricated Plug Valve

As the name recommends, a lubricated valve utilizes a lubricant usually made up of a base oil and viscosity improver (like amorphous or raged silica) that is infused under tension between the plug face and body seat to decrease grinding and seal ports. Valve manufacturers generally suggest lubricant suitable for the cycle liquid, and the valves frequently should be resealed after just a couple of cycles, and sometimes, after each cycle. Considered a high maintenance plug valve, they are regularly used in applications that have rare operations. Lubricated plug valves perform well in measures that use liquids that carry somewhat abrasive particles, for example, messy upstream applications, gas pipeline frameworks that need bypass valves, and blow-down valves on valve stations and kicker valves. 

  1. Non-Lubricated Plug Valve 

This plug valve uses a tapered or cone-shape that acts as a wedge and presses a polymeric sleeve against the body cavity. The utilization of the sleeve decreases contact between the plug mechanism and body. Non-lubricated plug valves are regularly used instead of lubricated ones in applications where maintenance should be kept to a base, such special administrations in sulfur, hydrogen fluoride, or where fluids could be trapped or set and potentially jam the valve. In any case, non-lubricated plug valves are limited by temperature and chemical compatibility of the non-metallic materials they are made of. 

 

The three main kinds of non-lubricated plug valves are: 

 

  • Lift-type plug valve 
  • Elastomer sleeved plug valve 
  • Completely lined plug valve 

 

  1. Offbeat Plug Valve

The plan of this plug valve utilizes a half plug that is advantageous for applications requiring a higher seating power with minimal grating from open to shut position. The force seated valves also feature improved shut off capabilities. Offbeat plug valves are used for a wide range of stream control and isolation applications including clean and filthy water, sewage, slime and slurries, air, and different administrations. 

  1. Expanding Plug Valve

This unpredictable plug valve utilizes various segments that allow the valve to mechanically expand and give it a genuine twofold impede and drain work in one valve. The plug valve utilizes a mechanism that rotates between the open and shut position and shields the two seals from the stream path. During rotation, there is no contact among body and seals, and slips expand onto the body seat when the valve is shut to avoid causing any wear or abrasion to the seals. They are regularly used to forestall item contamination in applications that don't need twofold isolation. 


Aira Euro Automation is a leading Best Plug Valve Manufacturer in India, Aira has a wide range of pneumatic and manually operated industrial valves. They export their products in more than 20 countries including Gulf countries.