What Are Disk Valves and How Do They Work
Posted on March 22, 2021
John Jones
Valves are common components for a great number of systems, allowing for various devices to control the flow of fluids. Depending on the particular application, the types of valves used for assemblies will often depend on particular needs and requirements. With a valve type known as the disk valve, the flow of fluids can be regulated with its ability to restrict or completely obstruct flow. While simplistic by themselves, disk valves are often a closure device for larger assemblies, assisting operations as parts of check valves, gate valves, butterfly valves, and other such types. With a variety of sizes, actuation methods, and other characteristics available, disk valves can serve a number of systems and uses.
The operation of the disk valve assembly will often depend upon the device that it is a part of. Nevertheless, the valve disk regularly serves as the primary pressure boundary of a system, and its positioning will dictate the flow of fluids. As valve disks will often be tasked with impeding the flow and force of fluids while in a sealed position, such components are manufactured with hardened metals for increased strength. To ensure that the disk is able to close itself with force, various
disk valve actuator assembly parts may be used. As disk valves can differ in their basic operations depending on their type, it can be useful to know about the most common variations that are used across industries. Generally, the three primary types of disk valve assemblies are butterfly valves, disk
check valves, and sanitary disk valves.
With the butterfly valve type, a disk is used in order to completely shut off a pipeline as needed. Similar to disk valves in general, the butterfly valve type has many designs and arrangements, though the most common are the zero offset, double offset, and triple offset variants. The zero offset type best serves devices exhibiting up to 200 psi and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and they utilize a disk that can rotate within the middle of the pipe. With the double offset type, higher performance and pressure handling is achieved with the use of two offset stems that create a cam action upon movement of the disk. Triple offset valves have three offset stems for their assembly, and this allows them to create a uniform seal that is frictionless.
With the disk check valve type, such components allow for non-return or non-reverse flow. As a disk valve assembly that provides checks for a system, such valves ensure that fluids can not move backwards once they have surpassed a certain point. In order to close off the valve, components such as spring-loaded, tilting
, or folding disk rotary mechanisms may be used. With any of the aforementioned methods of shut off, the valve disk itself functions to prevent any possible backflow.
The sanitary valve has functions that are very similar to the other types, though its difference lies in the fact that they are used for ensuring sanitation and abiotic conditions. With a rounded disk for the assembly, fluids can flow through the valve smoothly. With various types available such as the
ball disk valve or clamp disk valve, sanitary disk valves are regularly found in applications dealing with beverages, food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, dairy, and more. To ensure their optimal functionality and robust characteristics, such valves are regularly manufactured from stainless steel.
With the various types of disk valves available, a number of systems can benefit from the ability to slow or impede the flow of fluids. Jet Parts 360 is a trusted distributor of aircraft parts and other aerospace components, and customers can compare quotes for every aviation product that we offer. If there are particular items from our inventory that you are interested in, we ask that you fill out and submit an Instant RFQ form as provided on our website, and a dedicated account manager will reach out to you in 15 minutes or less to provide a unique solution to your needs.
