One of the most commonly used valves in any type of system is a check valve. These valves are also known as no-return valves or one-way valves, and this is a very good indication of just what these valves do.
A one way check valve is an in-line valve that is used to prevent the backflow of the media through the valve. This is important to protect pumps and equipment up the system from the valve. It is also essential to prevent contamination in a system and to ensure efficient operation by maintaining necessary system pressures and flow rates.
A one way check valve can be used in any type of system including for air as well as for liquids, gases and even for slurries or other types of viscous materials, particularly in production and processing applications. Different designs in the internal configuration of the valve are developed for these various applications, with swing check valves, flapper, disc and diaphragm valves the most frequently used.
Where to Install
In a system using air or gas or with liquids, choosing the correct installation location for a one way check valve is vital to effective operation. It will be critical to verify the pressure range for the valve that matches the high and low pressures within the system, and not just the average pressure.
Installation of the check valve needs to be considered as a protective aspect for pumps and other equipment or system design. Locating the check valve downstream from pumps prevents backflow that can create significant damage. The same is true for compression tanks, vacuums and other similar features in the system.
Correctly sizing the check valve for the pressure, choosing the action of the valve to eliminate shock within the system and then sizing the valve for the tubing or pipe are all factors that need to be considered.
