Industrial applications of plug valves

Ⅰ. High requirements for high-quality valves in industrial sectors

Valve selection is a crucial component of proper design and maintenance practices for industrial, piping, and instrumentation systems. Without the right valves for a specific application, operators may face inappropriate or suboptimal fluid system performance, longer downtime, and safety risks.

Valves are typically selected in the initial stages of fluid system design. Throughout the system's lifecycle, maintenance technicians usually replace valves and most other components using the same types of components already present in the system, following specifications. Therefore, selecting the right valves from the outset is crucial, helping operators avoid premature valve replacements later.

A plug valve achieves on/off switching, flow diversion, or flow merging through a 90° rotation of the valve core (cylindrical/conical plug). It is fully open when the valve core's through-hole is aligned with the valve body's flow channel, and closes by offsetting after rotation. Its extremely simple structure and direct action are the foundation of all its advantages. The full-bore design reduces the risk of clogging, making it suitable for high-viscosity media (heavy oil, syrup, slurry) and media containing small amounts of particles (sewage, low-concentration slurries). It solves the problem of conveying viscous/impurity-containing media and can meet the high requirements of industry for high-quality valves.

Ⅱ. The core advantages of plug valves in industrial applications

Excellent shut-off performance: The plug valve provides a tight seal when closed, effectively preventing leakage.

Simple and reliable operation: Full opening/closing can be completed with just a 90° rotation, much faster than gate valves and stop valves (which require multiple rotations). It has low operating torque and fast response, making it suitable for emergency shut-off and frequent on/off conditions.

Minimal pressure drop: The flow resistance of the plug valve is low, so the pressure loss at both ends of the valve is minimal.

Suitable for multi-port configurations: Supports tee and four-way structures, and a single valve can realize the diversion, merging or flow direction switching of 3 to 4 pipelines, simplifying pipeline design, reducing the number of valves and connecting accessories, and reducing system complexity and cost.

Low maintenance costs: Simple structure, few parts, easy disassembly, and convenient replacement of vulnerable parts such as valve cores and seats without the need for complex tools, resulting in low maintenance costs and short downtime. Hard seal/wear-resistant coating models (such as tungsten carbide spraying) can extend the service life to more than 5 years, significantly reducing the failure downtime rate.

A variety of materials are available: plug valves are available in a variety of materials to suit different applications, including corrosive and high-temperature industrial environments.

Ⅲ. How to choose the right plug valve?

First, select valves that meet the required pressure rating based on the system's pressure , temperature, and media properties. Never choose a model with an insufficient pressure rating to save costs. Conversely, if the system will operate at low pressure for extended periods, using a high-pressure valve may shorten the lifespan of the seals or result in wasted costs; a balance must be struck.

Regarding temperature, confirm that the valve material remains suitable even at the highest operating temperature. If long-term throttling at high temperatures is required, high-temperature resistant designs such as graphite packing or metal seals should be used. Regarding the medium, consult the supplier to confirm that the valve material and seals can withstand the corrosion of the medium, such as preventing rubber seals from expanding when exposed to strong acids and PTFE from experiencing cold flow when exposed to certain solvents.

Ⅳ. ZZJG provides high-quality products and services

With exceptional quality, Zhengzhou Jinggong Valve(ZZJG) products are exported to over 70 countries and regions worldwide, becoming a preferred brand for industrial projects in countries such as Russia, the UAE, and Singapore . Below are some of our high-quality plug valve products to meet the needs of different industrial scenarios:

In addition to high-quality products, ZZJG also provides full life-cycle concierge services, from pre-sales selection and design, technical Q&A, to in-sales customized processing and logistics support, and after-sales installation guidance and 24-hour technical support, to comprehensively empower the improvement of industrial fluid control efficiency. With its high-quality plug valves, ZZJG builds a solid valve core barrier for safe production and efficient operation in various industrial fields.