Check Valves

Check valves, often referred to as non-return valves or one-way valves, are a specific type of valve designed to allow fluid flow in only one direction. This is achieved by the valve automatically closing when fluid attempts to flow in the opposite direction, a feature that is integral to many systems for preventing damage, contamination, or undesired effects.

Types of Check Valves:

Swing Check Valve: This design uses a disc or “flap” that swings on a hinge or trunnion. Fluid flowing in the correct direction pushes the flap open, and when the fluid attempts to flow backward, the flap swings shut.

Lift Check Valve: The lift check valve operates with a disc or piston that lifts off its seat with the flow of fluid and settles back onto the seat when the fluid flow reverses, thereby blocking it.

Ball Check Valve: This type employs a ball inside the valve. The forward pressure pushes the ball off its seat to allow fluid to flow, and the backpressure pushes the ball back onto the seat, stopping the reverse flow.

Diaphragm Check Valve: This type uses a flexible rubber diaphragm which opens with the flow of the fluid and closes when the flow reverses, similar to a biological diaphragm.

Wafer Check Valve: This design fits between sets of flanges and utilizes a spring-loaded disc in the centre which lifts to allow forward flow and reseats to halt reverse flow.

Application features:

• Backflow Prevention: The primary feature of check valves is their ability to prevent backflow in a system, protecting equipment and processes from damage or contamination.
• Pressure Maintenance: Check valves help to maintain pressure within systems by ensuring unidirectional fluid flow.
• Automatic Function: Unlike many valves that require manual operation or control systems, check valves operate automatically, responding directly to the pressure conditions in the system.
• Versatility: Check valves come in a variety of sizes, materials, and types, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, from simple household plumbing to industrial processing and even in high-tech devices.
• Simplicity & Durability: Check valves are generally simple in design with fewer moving parts, making them less prone to mechanical failure, and thus, more durable and reliable in long-term operation.