The flow control valve varies widely depending on its use, making it somewhat of a challenge to use. Control valves that control liquids or gases differ significantly and workers must operate them on a case-by-case basis. Training your employees in the proper installation, care and maintenance of control valves is the key to preventing accidents. Save lives and your bottom line by training your workforce.

Get flow control valve information from several sources online. If you don't already have a manufacturer that supplies your valves, look for one that will provide training and assistance. If your current manufacturer isn't much of a help, don't fret. There are many other educational opportunities for you to utilize. Start by:

1. Find helpful resources from valve manufacturers.

2. Consider educating or refreshing your workforce on your own using training materials.

3. Enroll your employees in a good flow control valves information course.

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Seek flow control valves education and training from manufacturers

If your current manufacturer doesn't offer any training materials, seek help from others. Some even have free information on their websites that you can utilize for training with any brand control valve.

I recommend: Find flow control valves suppliers like Larox Flowsys or Plast-o-Matic Valves. Both offer resource material including training materials, product description downloads and control valve videos.

Find information about flow control valves to use for in-house training

While instructor-directed courses are a great option, their cost may not fit in your company budget. As an alternative, consider purchasing flow control learning software to educate your workforce. Software can be a useful option that allows employees to review at their own comfortable pace.

I recommend: Get teaching software from Multi Media HRD that's focused on flow control. Software can be utilized at the pace that works for your training needs. Another option would be to enroll yourself or your employees in the self-paced flow control instructional course offered from The Learning Centre. The online-course features broad valve education with sections of specific flow control valve training.

Find companies that offer training courses for industrial flow control valve topics

Several industrial learning centers offer teachings on adjustable flow control valves and other control valves as part of their engineering series. Choose a course or seminar that includes specific control valve education you want to teach your workforce.

I recommend: Emerson Process offers field device courses including control valve engineering, maintenance and repair options. Mastery Technologies Interactive Job Skills Training has an Industrial Skills: Fluid Power course that covers control valves and other fluid valve options.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because a flow control valve handles tremendous amounts of pressure from liquids each day, it's important to make sure it is working properly. A person that is highly trained in proper maintenance and safety should check pneumatic flow control valves and other valves regularly.

As their name implies, flow control valves control the flow or pressure of a fluid. In some cases, flow control valves can be used to regulate the pressure of a gas. Typically, flow control valves act as one part of a flow control system, receiving signals from flow meters or other types of gauges. Pneumatic flow control valves use compressed air to adjust the flow rate, while adjustable flow control valves automatically compensate for changes in pressure.

The type of flow control valve your business needs depends solely on the application. Although the concept is the same, an pneumatic flow control valve used in the dental and medical industries isn't appropriate for use in an industrial factory. When shopping for flow control valves, consider the following:

1. Purchase an adjustable flow control valve for use in hydraulic motors and cylinders.

2. Use pneumatic flow control valves with actuators and positioners as part of a complete flow control system.

3. Order custom flow control valves to get the best performance for unique applications.

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Simplify your operation with adjustable flow control valves

Adjustable flow control valves do the thinking for you. This type of valve automatically compensates for changes in pressure based on your settings. Adjustable flow control valves are commonly put to use in hydraulic motors, but are also found in the medical industry.

I recommend: An adjustable flow control valve from Northern Tool + Equipment Catalog Co. controls the speed of hydraulic motors. The valve can start and stop the hydraulic motor or cylinder and has a wide range of speed variability. You set the speed and the valve maintains it. Snap-tite offers adjustable flow control valves for control of hydraulic motor & cylinder actuation that can be adjusted under pressure. If you're in the market for adjustable flow control valves for medical use, Medtronic offers a valve that allows the caregiver to non-invasively change its resistance properties.

Purchase pneumatic flow control valves

A pneumatic flow control valve operates with the use of compressed air. The force of the compressed air against the flow control valve's diaphragm is opposed by the force of a spring. This opposition of force controls the valve's opening, allowing fluid to pass. Pneumatic flow control valves are appropriate for most industrial applications.

I recommend: Browse a large inventory of pneumatic flow control valves from several flow control valves suppliers at Advanced Fluid Power. Buy flow control valves online from Clippard Instrument Laboratory, which prides itself on being one of the leaders in the miniature pneumatic product market.

Order custom industrial flow control valves

By ordering flow control valves that have been custom built based on your specifications, you ensure the valve functions properly from the first time it's used. This convenient option saves you maintenance costs and time during installation.

I recommend: W.A. Kates Company offers the Kates I/Q valve, which is custom built for your application. The valve is shipped fully assembled after passing flow tests at 33 different operating settings and requires no field calibration. Order custom flow control valves from SVF Flow Controls. The company designs and manufactures custom valves for unique applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  A stainless steel industrial flow control valve has a longer lifespan and cleaner air flow than a flow control valve constructed of non-stainless materials.

A flow control valve controls the flow or pressure of fluid in a system. When interacting with industrial valve suppliers, you will need to understand various technical terms.

This guide intends to introduce you to some flow control valves key terms, such as flow rate, viscosity, diaphragm valves and globe valves.

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Flow rate (fluid flow rate)

Before selecting a flow control valve, you must define the flow rate for your application. Flow rate is the amount of the system fluid passing through the valve per unit of time.

I recommend: To understand the definition of flow rate, read through the hydraulic terms glossary at Nova Hydraulics, a reputable company in the field of hydraulic product repairs.

Viscosity

The viscosity of a fluid is its resistance to flow. Viscosity of the system fluid is an important factor for design and selection of a flow control valve.

I recommend: Valcor Engineering Corporation, a reputable manufacturer of flow control valves, provides a glossary of terms related to industrial valves. In addition, you can also read through the definition of viscosity at Shippensburg Pump Co., Inc., a supplier of various industrial products.

PSI

PSI indicates the system pressure in pounds per square inch. Before selecting a flow control valve, you must make sure that the valve can operate at system pressure for your applications.

I recommend: Airpower UK, a specialist compressed air company, offers a glossary of technical terms, including PSI. In addition, you can refer to the glossary of technical terms at Prism Flow Products, a reputable supplier of fluid control products.

GPM (Gallons Per Minute)

GPM is the unit of measurement of flow rate. It is the amount of fluid (in gallons) passing through the liquid control valve per minute at certain predefined system pressure.

I recommend: You can read through the plumbing industry key terms at Plumbing Manufacturers Institute.

Actuator

As the name indicates, the actuator is the valve component that controls the movement of the closure member of the valve. Depending on the application requirement, the actuator of a flow control valve can be activated electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically.

I recommend: For descriptions of actuator and actuator assembly, read through the process control valve terminology at Emerson Electric Co. (PDF). In addition, Texas Instruments provides the definition of an actuator device.

Diaphragm valves

A diaphragm valve consists of a flexible element (called a diaphragm) that can be controlled using an actuator mechanism. These valves come in two types: weir diaphragm valves and straight through diaphragm valves.

I recommend: GlobalSpec provides basic information about diaphragm valves and their applications.

Globe valves

A globe valve is another flow control valve used to regulate or throttle fluid flow. Though these valves are most suitable for high pressure applications, their flow coefficients are in a lower range than other flow control valves.

I recommend: Specialty Valve & Fitting Co., a reputable supplier of industrial valves, provides information about various valves, such as ball valves, gate valves and globe valves.