A Complete Guide To Sleeve Plug Valve

1. What is Sleeve Plug Valve?

The Sleeve Plug Valve is a rotary valve with a plunger-shaped closing member. By rotating 90 degrees, the channel port on the valve plug communicates with or separates the channel port on the valve body, thereby opening or closing the valve. It is widely used in all kinds of industrial applications to control the flow of liquids or gases.

Everyone may have questions, why is this kind of valve called a plug valve? Because it has a cylindrical or conical plug that rotates inside the valve body to open or close the flow path. Another important feature of the plug is that it is easy to adapt to multi-branch constructions so that a single valve can have two, three, or even four different flow branches. This simplifies the design of the piping system and reduces the number of valves and connection joints in the equipment.

2. Parts Of Sleeve Plug Valves

Body

Sleeve plug valve manufacturers make the body from ductile cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy steel, etc. The high strength of the material ensures that this valve is very strong under high pressure and impacts damage that can be caused by falling objects.

Body Cover

This is a component that is installed on top of the sleeve plug valve. Bolts and nuts securely connect the valve cover and valve body. At the same time, the valve body cover is a great helper in containing internal components, such as seals that prevent fluid from leaking through the valve stem.

Stem

In the entire structure of the sleeve plug valve, the function of the valve stem is to connect the hand wheel/actuator to the valve plug. During valve operation, the valve stem helps transmit the torque exerted on the hand wheel/actuator, causing the bridge plug to move vertically to stop or start fluid flow.

Plug

In the structure of the sleeve plug valve, the valve plug can be said to be an important component of the sleeve plug valve. Its main function is to open and close the fluid flow. The plug of the sleeve plug valve can realize one hole or multiple holes during the design and production process according to the actual needs of the working conditions. It is through this hole that fluid flows when the valve is activated.

Seat

The valve seat is usually a component installed on the bottom of the valve body. When the valve plug is closed and the fluid stops flowing, the valve seat provides a resting surface for the valve plug. During operation, the valve seat plays an important role in ensuring that there is no fluid leakage when the valve is closed. The material of the sleeve plug valve seat can also be made of different materials, such as plastic and rubber, according to working conditions and production costs.

Gasket

Gaskets are placed between the valve body and the valve body cover to prevent fluid leakage. At the same time, it is also placed at the connection between the valve body and the pipe to prevent any leakage.

Gland Packing

Gland packings are friction-resistant, heat-resistant seals that can be made from a range of materials, including PTFE, Aramid, Kevlar, and graphite. Typically used in rotating equipment such as steam valves and pumps. This is a seal placed between the valve body and valve stem to prevent fluid from leaking through the valve stem.

Sleeve

The sleeve is a compressible component placed between the valve plug and the valve body to ensure that the valve plug rotates smoothly without wear and prevents any leakage. Sleeve plug valves are known for their excellent sealing capabilities, making them ideal for applications requiring tight closure.

3. How Does a Sleeve Plug Valve Work?

The operation of the Sleeve Plug Valve can be manual, worm gear, hydraulic, electric, pneumatic, etc. Whether it is an automatic or manual valve, its working mechanism is the same. The valve is activated when the hand wheel or actuator rotation forces the valve stem and valve plug to rotate.

To open a plug valve, the hand wheel or actuator rotates the valve stem one-quarter turn clockwise. Under the force of the clockwise rotation of the valve stem, the valve plug rotates 90 degrees so that the valve plug port and the valve port are in line. This creates a clear path for fluid to pass through the casing plug valve.

For regulating fluid flow, the hand wheel is rotated at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to allow fluid to flow through part of the valve.

Sleeve plug valve manufacturers recommend using sleeve plug valves for throttling where a pressure drop is required but do not pose a technical challenge.

4. Advantages of Sleeve Plug Valves

● Fixed sleeve, no displacement with plug valve body.

● The design of the valve is simple and compact.

● Top entry design, easy for installation & maintenance.

● PTFE sleeve material, self-lubricated, small operating torque.

● No body cavities, self-cleaning design on sealing surfaces.

● Compensable sealing pressure for high-quality sealing without leakage.

● Bidirectional seals, no limitation on the flow direction.

● Anti-static & fireproof design for safety.

● Full-bore or necked-type plug valves can be chosen, and Jacketed design can be chosen.

● Sleeve plug valves do not require frequent maintenance like other lubricated valves.

● Because sleeve plug valves are highly versatile, they can be used in a wide range of operating conditions.

5. Applications of Sleeve Plug Valves

Sleeve Plug Valve is widely used in gas-solid & liquid-solid with high washing ability; acid production, alkali production, petroleum, and chemical industries.

1) It is used to distribute the medium and change the flow direction of the medium, and its working temperature is not higher than 300°C. The nominal pressure is PN<1.6MPa. The nominal diameter is not more than 300mm. A multi-pass plug valve is recommended.

2) For the equipment and pipelines of milk, juice, beer, and other food enterprises and pharmaceutical factories, it is recommended to use austenitic stainless steel and tight-set conical plug valves.

3) In the branch pipes, refining and cleaning equipment of oilfield exploitation, natural gas field exploitation, and pipeline transportation, the nominal pressure is not greater than Class300, and the nominal diameter is not more than 300mm.

4) In the branch pipes, refining and cleaning equipment of oilfield exploitation, natural gas exploitation, and pipeline transportation, the nominal pressure is not greater than Class7500, the nominal diameter is not more than 900mm, the working temperature is not higher than 340°C, and it is recommended to use oil-sealed conical plug valve.

5) In the large-scale chemical industry, in the pipeline and equipment containing corrosive media, the opening or closing speed is required to be fast, for the nitric acid-based medium, the PTFE sleeve sealed conical plug valve can be selected; For acetic acid-based media, Crl8Nil2M02Ti stainless steel PTFE sleeve can be selected with sealed conical plug valve.

6) In the pipeline and equipment of gas, natural gas, and HVAC systems, the nominal diameter is not more than 200mm.

Conclusion

The sleeve plug valve is a member of the plug valve family. It is used as a sleeve between the valve body and the plug to achieve smooth rotation of the plug without causing wear. This kind of valve is more durable than lubricated valves, which can effectively extend the service life of the valve and eliminate the need for replacement.

ZZJG VALVE produces many types of sleeve plug valves, such as flange end sleeve plug valves, threaded end sleeve plug valves, welding end sleeve plug valves multi-port sleeve plug valves, etc. Industries for this valve include chemical processing, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, water supply, mining, oil and gas, and more.

If you want to know more information about ZZJG Sleeve Plug Valves, please feel free to contact us. Our professional engineers team will answer any questions and concerns you have.