What are Diverter Valves? How are they used?
These processing valves are used to control the flow of streams in two ways: one is to split one flow into 2 or more streams and the second is to combine 2 or more streams into 1. Diverter valves for the dry material are made to split or combine streams of powders, slurries, and other dry solids. Diverter valves for liquids are used in cars, pools, kitchens, and of course manufacturing.
For the purpose of controlling the effluent from septic tanks to a plurality of leach of beds, diverter valves are used effectively. Diverter valves are being used in dual-purpose boilers for shutting off the ways to radiators and for opening ways around the heat exchanger on second for heating the water indirectly.
Heavy duty diverter valves are used in pneumatic conveying industries along with specialized equipment for mining, chemical, petroleum, coal power, metals processing and pulp and paper industries.
Multi-port diverter valves are made for special handling of dry bulk solids in dilute or vacuum phase pneumatic conveying system with high or low pressure, which depends on size. The purpose of using multi-port diverter valves is to eliminate the necessity for complicated hose manifold stations for reducing safety hazards.
Fill Pass diverter valves give a reliable and versatile solution to fill one or more in-line weigh hoppers by a closed loop system for conveying material pneumatically. The primary function of Fill Pass diverters is to improve material separation by reducing downline material carryover and fill time.
Some diverter valves are used for handling abrasive materials in the application of gravity flow. An internal chute in the body of a diverter is constructed with a special metal that has abrasive-resistance for superior wear resistance.
What are they made from? How are they made?
There are various types of diverter valves such as flap diverters, tube diverters, plug diverters and more. Every diverter valve is made for the specific purpose that is why, the material for producing diverter valves depends upon their usage, but mostly diverter valves are made of solid metals like Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Carbon Steel, and Iron to handle the wear from moving bulk material.
Firstly, these valves are made through industrial processes where advanced technological production processes are adopted to manufacture all types of diverter valves. Diverter valves are long and wide tubes for transferring bulk solids. After making long tubes of desired material, these diverter valves are given proper shape according to the purpose of their usage. For this reason, joints are used to add smaller parts of these valves. As these valves can split or combine material, they are often found in 2, 3 and 4-way configurations of multiple metal tubes connected to one valve.
What characteristics are important when selecting? How do you select the right diverter valve for the application?
It is very critical to select an appropriate diverter valve for conveying application. The following factors must be considered before selecting a diverter valve.
Application Type: The selection of diverter valve should be based on application type. Converging and separating valves cannot be used for the same purpose. If a system has more than two destinations or material sources, then a multiport diverter valve will be the best option instead of installing a two-way converger valve.
Conveying System Type: One more consideration before choosing a right diverter valve is conveying system type. Consider whether the pneumatic conveying system is dilute phase or dense phase. The pressure and vacuum capabilities, diameter, and expected pressure of valves should also be taken into consideration so that valves may function properly. Pressure and vacuum capabilities are technical characteristics, and expert engineering design is needed to ensure them. The use of diameter of diverter valves for bulk solids should be wide enough to let them pass through.
Material Characteristics: For choosing a diverter valve, a material characteristic like abrasiveness and particle size, is one of the main things to be necessarily considered by a buyer, as a chosen diverter valve must be able to handle particle size and abrasiveness. The material passing through the diverter valves should also be matched with the proper valve design. The valve itself has two costs. The upfront cost of the piece with shipping and another cost which is the maintenance cost. This last cost is composed of the expected costs associated with the valve itself for regular maintenance but also the cost of the manufacturing line for the downtime.
What do you look for in a diverter valve?
Someone must look for the following compulsory features in a diverter valve.
Suitability: It is an obvious requirement of a customer for a diverter valve that it should be suitable for the application needed in the factory or warehouse.
Cost-Effectiveness: Another important attribute of diverter valve is that it should be cost-effective but efficient to operate it. Cost-effectiveness is necessary because the chosen diverter valve should be compatible with its function.
Efficiency/Performance: The efficiency of a diverter valve is also important to be considered because the maintenance and running cost of a diverter valve should always be less than benefits taken from it.
Proper Certification: Someone must look for proper certification of the diverter valve. If a diverter valve has authentic certification, then buy it otherwise not as uncertified diverter valve may be of sub-standard quality, which always means a loss of precious money.
Right and Timely Support: Along with hardware characteristics, after sale support from the seller must be taken into consideration, as if there is no or little support from the supplier then diverter valve can become too costly for the buyer. A satisfactory and timely support must be available for diverter valves.
Reliability: Reliability is also a feature that is considered, or someone would look for in a diverter valve. A diverter valve must perform well in all situations and conditions like higher temperature, higher pressure, and thermal stress.
In short, it is imperative to select the right diverter valve, with the right features at the right price.
