1. By Structure & Working Principle
Gate Valve: Uses wedge disc for flow control
Knife Gate: For slurry/particulate media
Globe Valve: Linear motion stem-disc for throttling
Needle Valve: Precise small-flow control
Ball Valve: 90° rotating sphere for tight shutoff
Butterfly Valve: Rotating disc for large pipelines
Check Valve: Prevents backflow (swing/lift types)
Plug Valve: Tapered/cylindrical plug rotation
Diaphragm Valve: Corrosion-resistant elastomer diaphragm
Safety Valve: Pressure relief (spring/lever types)
Control Valve: Pressure/flow/temperature regulation
Steam Trap: Automatic condensate removal
Pinch Valve: Squeezes elastomer tube for slurries
2. By Application
General Purpose
Water/gas/oil systems (gate/globe/ball valves)
Industrial Specialties
| Industry | Valve Type |
|---|---|
| Petrochemical | High-PT alloy ball valves |
| Power Generation | Power plant globe/safety valves |
| Pharma/Food | Sanitary clamp valves |
Special Applications
Vacuum/vent valves
Fire-safe valves (fusible link)
Explosion-proof valves
3. By Pressure Rating
| Class | Range |
|---|---|
| Low Pressure | ≤1.6MPa (PN16) |
| Medium Pressure | 2.5–6.4MPa |
| High Pressure | 10–80MPa |
| Ultra-High Pressure | ≥100MPa |
4. By Temperature
Cryogenic: <-40°C (LNG service)
Standard: -40°C to 120°C
High-Temp: 120–450°C+ (power plants)
5. By Actuation
Manual: Handwheel/lever
Automatic: Self-actuated (check/steam traps)
Powered:
Electric: Precision control
Pneumatic: Hazardous areas
Hydraulic: High-torque needs
6. By Connection
| Type | Application |
|---|---|
| Threaded | Small bore pipes |
| Flanged | High-pressure systems |
| Welded | Permanent installations |
| Tri-Clamp | Hygienic processes |
| Wafer | Space-constrained layouts |
7. By Material
Metallic
Cast iron / carbon steel
Stainless (316L/Hastelloy)
Titanium (seawater service)
Non-Metallic
PP/PVC (chemical resistance)
Ceramic (abrasive media)
8. Other Classifications
Sealing:
Metal-to-metal (high temp)
Soft seats (PTFE/EPDM)
Standards Compliance:
API 600 / ASME B16.34
DIN EN 1171 / JIS B2071
Structural Design:
Monoblock (integrally cast)
Modular (field-serviceable)
