If you need to control the flow rate of a fluid within a hydraulic circuit, flow control valves offer the ideal solution. They do this by varying the size of the flow passage as directed by a signal from a controller, which is usually a flow meter. From needle valves to ball valves, there are many different types of flow control valves available, as we explain below.
A flow control valve is a type of valve that regulates the flow rate or pressure of a fluid, such as gas or liquid, through a pipeline or process system. It’s designed to control the flow of fluid by adjusting the size of the valve opening, which can be done manually or electronically.
Flow control valves can be used in a variety of applications, including industrial, commercial and residential settings. They’re also found in pipelines for water, gas and oil, as well as in heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, chemical processing plants, and hydraulic systems.
A flow control valve works by regulating the flow of media through a system. The exact mechanism used to control the fluid flow depends on the specific type of flow control valve that’s being used. However, most types of flow control valves operate by changing the size of the opening through which the fluid flows.
At Fluid Controls, we supply a wide variety of hydraulic flow control valve types. Our range includes:
Ball valves feature a hollow ball that pivots 90° around its axis to open or close the flow. Ball valves at Fluid Controls include miniature ball valves, ball check valves, cryogenic ball valves, high-pressure ball valves, rotary plug valves, and swing-out ball valves.
Check valves allow a medium to flow in one direction to prevent potential damage caused by the backflow of the fluid. Fluid Controls stocks and supplies a wide range of unidirectional flow control check valves from Parker’s Instrumentation Division.
Metering valves are another type of flow control valve available at Fluid Controls that provides accurate and stable control of flow rates in analytical, instrumentation and research applications. We stock metering valves from Parker for their ability to work to high-flow and high-pressure specifications, as well as under high temperatures.
Needle valves open or close an orifice using a tapered end and can either be controlled manually or with an actuator. Fluid Controls stocks stainless steel needle valves from industry-leading manufacturers, Parker.
Solenoid valves are electro-mechanical valves that are commonly employed to control the flow of liquids or gases. From pilot-operated solenoid valves to stainless steel solenoid valves, we can provide high-quality flow control valves for all industrial applications.
There is a wide range of benefits and advantages that flow control valves can offer. They include:
Customisable – The hydraulic flow control valve types available at Fluid Controls can be customised to suit the specific needs of your application.
Fluid Controls has been supplying high-quality flow control valves since 1988. Our extensive range of valves comes from global leaders like Parker, Bürkert and Thompson Valves. As a fully accredited ISO9001:2008 company, we provide installation options and service facility for certain products we supply. We also offer full pressure testing and repairs, as well as in-house or on-site training to optimise your user experience.
For more information about any of our different types of flow control valves, or to discuss your application requirements in more detail, please contact Fluid Controls today on +44 (0)118 970 2060 or email Sales@FluidControls.co.uk.