Here at MGA Controls, we are experts when it comes to the range of industrial control and instrumentation devices. Our expertise spans a wide range of industrial applications and environments, including the oil and gas industry. Read on to learn about the 5 most commonly used control valves within oil and gas applications and why MGA Controls are one of the leading oil and gas valve suppliers.
Why ball valves are perfectly suited for use as oil and gas valves
Ball valves are designed to control the flow of a high-pressure liquid or gas, whilst only allowing for a minimal pressure drop. Ball valves are quick at opening and closing, which makes them well suited to controlling the flow and pressure of liquids and gases within the oil and gas industry. Ball valves also feature a tight seal with low torque, allowing for safety when handling abrasive and corrosive materials.
We have had long-standing relationships with various high-quality ball valve manufactures including Avco, Alco and Bifold. We can supply you with any specification of ball valve that you require.
Why are control valves so important in the oil and gas industry?
Control valves are essential in the oil and gas industry. Control valves are used to regulate the flow rate of a fluid, such as oil, or a gas in a pipeline or process. In an oil and gas or petrochemical application, the role of a control valve is to keep strict control over the process. By implementing a control valve in an oil and gas or petrochemical application, this ensures that the application works as intended and produces the desired output in terms of quality, quantity and time.
A control valve consists of four major components. These include the valve body, in which the modulating element is contained and operates. The second component is the positioner which is used to control the degree of a valve opening, whilst the actuator is the device used to move the modulating part of the valve such as the ball on a ball valve, the disc on a butterfly valve or the stem on a globe valve. The final component of a control valve is the controller.
What are the most commonly used control valves in the oil and gas industry?
Within an oil and gas application, control valves serve a number of different functions, with the most common one being to regulate the flow of a gas or liquid within an application. Control valves function to reduce or increase the flow rate and pressure within an oil and gas or petrochemical application. Here at MGA Controls, our control valves can be used in oil and gas applications for pressure reducing, pressure sustaining, flow control, altitude control, level control, pump control and for surge anticipating.
Control valves are split into two main types, either linear motion or rotary motion valves.
The range of linear motion control valves consists of globe valves, gate valves, diaphragm valves and pinch valves. The range of rotary motion control valves consists of ball valves, butterfly valves and plug valves. From this range, the valves most commonly used in an oil and gas application include butterfly valves, ball valves, check valves and globe valves.
Why are butterfly valves well suited to use as oil and gas valves?
Butterfly valves are used to isolate and modulate media, including liquids and gases with minimal pressure loss. Butterfly valves are well-suited for use as an oil and gas valve due to their small size, which allows them to fit almost anywhere even in cramped and limited space conditions. Butterfly valves are usually equipped with an actuator. When actuated, butterfly valves are quick to open and close, which makes them well equipped to control the flow of oil and gas products. Due to their design, butterfly valves are highly reliable in nature with very few maintenance requirements. Butterfly valves are capable of standing up to the harsh conditions faced by oil and gas valves, meaning that they keep going even when faced with aggressive media.
Here at MGA Controls, we have long-term partnerships with various industry-leading manufacturers, including Abo, Bray, Tomoe, Velan, Crane, Keystone and Hobbs Valves. Due to our close relationship with these manufacturers, we can meet the requirements of any application.
Do check valves make useful oil and gas valves?
Check valves are used to prevent reverse flow through the pipes of an oil and gas or petrochemical application. This helps to protect pumps and other equipment that could be damaged by backflow, which makes them well suited for use as an oil and gas valve. Check valves ensure that liquids and gases can only pump in one direction, which reduces the need for maintenance and system downtime by eradicating the damage caused by backflow. This makes them particularly well suited to use as an oil and gas valve due to the abrasive and corrosive nature of oil and gas in petrochemical applications.
Browse our range of check valves to find the ones best suited for use as an oil and gas valve.
Why do globe valves work well as oil and gas valves?
Finally, we recommend globe valves for oil and gas valve applications as these are often used to isolate and throttle liquid and gas flow. Globe valves are easy to install due to their easily machined valve seats. This range of valves also offers a tight shut-off ability, which is well suited for use in oil and gas or petrochemical applications due to the abrasive and corrosive nature of the media being handled. The simple linear motion of a globe valve makes quick open and close really simple and easy to do.
Here at MGA Controls, we can supply two different globe valves. The Type 2012 is a pneumatically operated 2/2 way globe valve whilst the Type 2002 is a pneumatically operated 3/2 way globe valve. Speak to one of our expert team at MGA to learn more about which globe valve is suitable for use as an oil and gas valve within your application.
Speak to our experts
As stockists of some of the world’s leading brands, MGA Controls are able to provide a wide range of control valves to suit all oil and gas applications. Contact the expert team at MGA Controls to find out more about which valve is best suited to your application. Call today on +44 (0)1704 898 980 or email sales@mgacontrols.co.uk.