Where Are Needle Valves Used?

Needle valves are used to control the flow precisely. The long, tapered, needle-like point on the end of the valve stem in the needle valve serves as the normal valve disk, fitting perfectly into the seats. This structure allows for a very gradual rise or decrease in the opening size. Needle valves are also found in other, more complex valves as components. They are used, for instance, in certain forms of reduction valves.

Needle Valve Construction and Design

Needle valves are identical to valves for shut-off. They are used within a pipeline to start, stop, and control the flow rate. Needle valves are constructed differently, however. Unlike shut-down valves, needle valves have a long, tapered, needle-like tip at the end of the valve stem. This is referred to also as the plunger. Such valves often have a hand wheel or a small handle on the plunger, which controls the plunger’s location. 

The needle-like plunger of the valve fits into the seat. A needle valve can precisely and reliably monitor how much fluid moves through the valve due to this specific nature.

How Does a Needle Valve Work?

Needle valves can work automatically or manually. To control the distance between the plunger and the valve seat, manually controlled needle valves use the handwheel. The plunger is raised when the handwheel is rotated in one direction to open the valve to allow fluid to move through. The plunger shifts closer to the seat when the handwheel is switched in the other direction to minimize the flow rate or close the valve.

A hydraulic motor or an air actuator that automatically opens and closes the valve is connected to an automated 6000 psi needle valve. The engine or actuator can adjust the plunger’s location according to timers or external performance data obtained during machinery monitoring. Manually controlled and automatic needle valves provide reliable flow rate control. The handwheel is thinly threaded, meaning it takes several turns to change the position of the plunger. Consequently, a needle valve will allow you to control the fluid flow rate in the device better.

Uses of Needle Valve

Needle valves are widely used to regulate flow and avoid damage caused by sudden pressure surges of liquids and gases from delicate gauges. They are suitable for systems with low flow rates using lighter and less viscous materials. In low-pressure hydraulic systems, needle valves are usually used in chemical manufacturing and other gas and liquid facilities, 

Based on their components, these valves can also be extended to high-temperature and oxygen facilities. Needle valves are commonly made from alloys of stainless steel, bronze, brass, or metal. Choosing a needle valve made of the material that is ideal for the service you need is essential. Therefore, working closely with the needle valve supplier will help maintain the valve’s service life and keep the systems using smoothly and securely.

It is a type of a globe valve, and it is used for low flow. A needle valve may be called a small globe valve. The only difference between the globe and the needle valve is that it has a long tapered point instead of a disk at the end of the valve stem. The valve’s long taper allows a smaller seating surface area than the globe valve; the needle valve 6000 psi is more suitable.