How to choose valves accurately in different scenarios

How to choose valves accurately in different scenarios

(I) Household gas pipelines

In the warm little world of the family, the gas pipeline is like the blood vessels of the human body, transporting gas to various gas-using equipment and providing convenience for our lives. The valve is an important checkpoint to ensure the safety of household gas. Different gas-using equipment requires different types of valves to protect it.

As the "food manufacturing center" of the family, the choice of gas valves is crucial. The stove valve is like a "little guard" of the kitchen gas pipeline, usually installed at the connection between the gas hose and the gas pipeline. Its function is to cut off the gas supply when the gas is not in use to prevent gas leakage. When choosing a stove valve, pay attention to its material and sealing performance. It is best to choose stainless steel or copper valves, which have good corrosion resistance and sealing properties and can effectively prevent gas leakage. Moreover, the operation of the stove valve should be simple and convenient, so that in an emergency, we can quickly close the valve to ensure safety. For example, after cooking, close the stove valve to avoid gas leakage when unattended. Gas water heaters are also commonly used gas equipment in the home, providing us with warm and comfortable hot water. For gas water heaters, it is recommended to install dedicated ball valves or angle valves. The ball valve is easy to operate and can quickly control the on and off of gas, which is suitable for occasions that require frequent on and off. The angle valve is compact, easy to install, and can clearly indicate the on and off state of the valve, which is suitable for occasions that remain open or closed for a long time. When choosing, you can decide according to the installation location of the gas water heater and personal usage habits. If the installation location is relatively small and the gas switch needs to be operated frequently, then the ball valve may be more suitable; if the installation location is easy to access and does not require frequent operation, then the angle valve will be a good choice. At the same time, ensure that the valve has good pressure resistance and sealing performance to adapt to the working pressure and high temperature environment of the gas water heater. In addition to the stove valve and gas water heater valve, there is another very important valve-the self-closing valve, which can be called the "smart guardian" of household gas safety. The self-closing valve can automatically close in the event of gas leakage, abnormal pressure, etc., cut off the gas supply, and effectively prevent accidents. It is like a guard who is always vigilant and will take action immediately once it detects danger. For example, when the gas hose in the home is aged and broken, causing gas leakage, the self-closing valve will quickly sense the change in pressure and automatically close the valve to prevent gas from continuing to leak, providing double protection for the safety of our lives and property. When installing the self-closing valve, pay attention to choosing products produced by regular manufacturers, and install and use them correctly according to the instructions, and regularly inspect and maintain them to ensure their reliable performance.

(II) Outdoor gas pipelines

Outdoor gas pipelines, like the "energy arteries" of the city, undertake the important task of delivering gas to thousands of households. Due to the complex and changeable outdoor environment, gas pipelines face various challenges, so the requirements for valves are more stringent. Different laying methods require different types of valves to meet their special needs. Buried gas pipelines are like "mysterious pipelines" hidden underground. They work silently underground to deliver gas to every corner. Because buried pipelines are underground for a long time, they are affected by soil pressure, corrosion, and groundwater immersion, so the strength, sealing and corrosion resistance of the valves are extremely high. When choosing buried gas valves, gate valves or ball valves are usually considered. Gate valves have strong pressure resistance and good sealing performance, can withstand greater pressure, and are suitable for working under high pressure environments; ball valves have the advantages of compact structure, rapid switching, and good sealing performance. They can quickly cut off gas and are not easily damaged by medium erosion. For example, gate valves are often used in buried pipelines of some large gas transmission trunks to stably control the flow of gas. In some branch buried pipelines that need to quickly cut off gas, ball valves play an important role. They are like a nimble warrior who can quickly respond to emergencies. At the same time, in order to improve the corrosion resistance of valves, corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel and ductile iron are usually used, or the valves are treated with anti-corrosion, such as coating with anti-corrosion coatings and using lining anti-corrosion materials. Overhead gas pipelines are erected high above the city, like "energy channels" in the air. Although they are not affected by the soil like buried pipelines, they are faced with the test of natural environments such as wind, sun, rain, and ice, so the weather resistance of valves is required to be high. When choosing an overhead gas valve, in addition to considering the basic performance of the valve, special attention should be paid to its weather resistance. Butterfly valves are widely used in overhead gas pipelines because of their simple structure, small size, light weight, easy operation, and certain weather resistance. It is like a light and flexible elf that can easily adjust the flow of gas on overhead pipelines. At the same time, in order to improve the weather resistance of the valve, the outer shell and seals of the valve will be made of materials with good weather resistance, such as aluminum alloy, stainless steel and other materials for the outer shell, and rubber or plastic with good weather resistance for the seal. In addition, some protective measures will be taken for the valve, such as installing a protective cover and applying anti-corrosion coating to extend the service life of the valve.

Pit avoidance guide: Common misunderstandings in selecting valves When choosing gas valves, many people may fall into some misunderstandings, which are like traps hidden in the dark, and will cause us to suffer losses if we are not careful. Below, let's take a look at these common misunderstandings and how to avoid them. Only look at the price and ignore the quality When buying gas valves, price is often the focus of everyone's attention. However, if you only want to be cheap and buy low-priced valves, it may bury safety hazards. Low-priced valves usually have defects in materials, processes and quality control. For example, they may use inferior sealing materials, which may cause the valves to leak easily; or use low-strength valve body materials, which are easy to break when subjected to a certain pressure. Just like some unscrupulous merchants use ordinary cast iron instead of stainless steel to make valves in order to reduce costs. Such valves will soon be damaged under the corrosion of gas, causing gas leakage accidents. Therefore, when choosing valves, we cannot only look at the price, but put quality first. You can refer to more user reviews and professional evaluations to understand the quality of valves of different brands and models, and choose products with high cost performance. Although the price of high-quality valves may be higher, it can provide us with more reliable safety protection, which is very worthwhile in the long run.

Blindly pursue brands without considering actual needs The power of brands is strong. Many people will blindly pursue well-known brands when choosing gas valves, thinking that as long as it is a big brand, it must be good. However, different brands have different positioning and characteristics. Although the quality of products of big brands is guaranteed, they may not fully meet our actual needs. For example, some brands of valves are aimed at the high-end market and are expensive, but their functions may be too complicated for ordinary families and are not cost-effective; while some brands focus on a specific field or application scenario and may not be applicable to other scenarios. Therefore, when choosing a valve, we cannot rely solely on the brand, but must choose according to our actual needs. Consider the working pressure, temperature, flow rate and other parameters of the gas pipeline, as well as the installation environment, frequency of use and other factors to choose a valve that suits you. You can make a reasonable choice based on the understanding of the brand and the specific performance and characteristics of the product.

Not paying attention to the scope of application of the valve Each valve has its specific scope of application, just like everyone has their own field of expertise. If you don't understand the scope of application of the valve, it may cause problems with the valve during use. For example, if a valve suitable for a low-pressure environment is installed on a high-pressure pipeline, the valve may not be able to withstand the high pressure, resulting in leakage or damage; or if a valve suitable for gas is used for pipelines of other media, the valve may fail due to the corrosiveness or other characteristics of the medium. 

Therefore, when purchasing a valve, be sure to carefully check the product manual to understand the scope of application of the valve. If you are not sure, you can consult a salesperson or professional to ensure that the selected valve can work properly in the actual use environment. Ignore after-sales service After-sales service is like a "caring nanny" for the product, and plays an important role in the use of the valve. If after-sales service is ignored, once there is a problem with the valve, it may face problems such as difficult maintenance, high maintenance costs, or failure to get timely maintenance. For example, some manufacturers ignore customer feedback after the product is sold, or the maintenance service is not timely, resulting in users being unable to solve the valve failure in time, affecting normal use. 

Therefore, when choosing a valve, pay attention to the manufacturer's after-sales service. Find out whether the manufacturer provides a warranty period, warranty scope, response time of after-sales service, maintenance methods, etc. Choosing a manufacturer with good after-sales service can make us feel more at ease in the process of using the valve. Valves made of different materials have different durability. Although the price of cast iron valves is relatively low, their strength and corrosion resistance are relatively weak. In the long-term use, they are easily damaged by gas erosion and pressure. Stainless steel valves have high strength and good corrosion resistance, and can work stably for a long time in harsh environments, but their prices are relatively high. Copper valves also have good thermal conductivity and corrosion resistance, and are softer and have better sealing performance, but their costs are also relatively high. For example, in some high-temperature and high-pressure gas environments, stainless steel valves can operate stably for many years with their excellent performance, while cast iron valves may soon have problems. When choosing valves, we can choose valves with high durability according to the specific working environment and requirements of the gas pipeline. If the working pressure of the gas pipeline is high and the temperature changes greatly, stainless steel valves should be given priority. If the gas contains more corrosive substances, in addition to stainless steel, special anti-corrosion coatings or lined valves can also be considered. For some occasions that are more sensitive to cost, cost-effective valves can be selected on the premise of ensuring safety and durability. At the same time, regular maintenance and care of the valves can also extend the service life of the valves and make them serve us better. When selecting gas pipeline valves and their materials, it is necessary to comprehensively consider the type, pressure, temperature, flow and other parameters of the gas, as well as the use environment, safety requirements and economic costs of the pipeline system. At the same time, it is also necessary to follow relevant national standards and industry specifications to ensure that the quality and performance of the selected valves meet the requirements to ensure the safe and stable operation of the gas pipeline system.