Valve Selection Guide
The suitability of a valve for a particular application is decided by the materials used in relation to the conveyed fluid as well as its mechanical design. The table below can be used as a valve selection guide.
| Conveyed Fluid | Nature of Fluid | Valve Function | Type of Disc |
| Liquid | Neutral (Water, Oil, etc) |
On/Off | Gate |
| Rotary ball | |||
| Plug | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Butterfly | |||
| Plug gate | |||
| Control valve, modulating | Globe | ||
| Butterfly | |||
| Plug gate | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Needle | |||
| Corrosive (Acid, alkaline etc.) |
On/Off | Gate | |
| Plug gate | |||
| Rotary ball | |||
| Plug | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Butterfly | |||
| Control valve, modulating | Globe | ||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Butterfly | |||
| Plug gate | |||
| Hygienic (Food, beverages, drugs etc) |
On/Off | Butterfly | |
| Diaphragm | |||
| Control valve, modulating | Butterfly | ||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Squeeze | |||
| Pinch | |||
| Slurry | On/Off | Rotary ball | |
| Butterfly | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Plug | |||
| Pinch | |||
| Squeeze | |||
| Control valve, modulating | Butterfly | ||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Squeeze | |||
| Pinch | |||
| Gate | |||
| Fibrous Suspensions | On/Off, Control valve, modulating |
Gate | |
| Diaphragm | |||
| Squeeze | |||
| Pinch | |||
| Gas | Neutral (Air, Steam etc) |
On/Off | Gate |
| Globe | |||
| Rotary ball | |||
| Plug | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Control valve, modulating | Globe | ||
| Needle | |||
| Butterfly | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Gate | |||
| Corrosive (Acid vapors, chlorine etc.) |
On/Off | Butterfly | |
| Rotary ball | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Plug | |||
| Control valve, modulating | Butterfly | ||
| Globe | |||
| Needle | |||
| Diaphragm | |||
| Vacuum | On/Off | Gate | |
| Globe | |||
| Rotary ball | |||
| Butterfly | |||
| Solids | Abrasive Powder (Silica, etc) |
On/Off, Control valve, modulating |
Pinch |
| Squeeze | |||
| Spiral sock | |||
| Lubricating powder (graphite, talcum, etc | On/Off, Control valve, modulating |
Pinch | |
| Gate | |||
| Spiral sock | |||
| Squeeze |
Resource : By Laurance Carr Director of Research and Engineering Edward Valves, Inc. Subsidiary of Rockwell Mfg Co.