Everything you need to know about irrigation valves: what they are, types and what each of them is used for

In this post we will discuss everything related to irrigation valves: what they are, what they are for and what types exist.

First of all we are going to explain the most important thing: what an irrigation valve is and what it is for. Irrigation valves are a fundamental piece in an irrigation system, since they are responsible for controlling the amount of water that passes through the installation.

The choice of one system or another will depend on the needs and the type of installation in question. The function they perform will depend on the type of valve, since it will open the passage of water.

En Mundoriego we have different types of Válvulas, for example: ball valve, butterfly valve, gate valve, retention valve, pressure reducing valves, foot valves, hydraulic valves o solenoid valve. Each of them will use a different system to regulate the flow of water.

Below we will explain in detail each one of them and what mechanism they use to function.

 

Ball valve

This type of valve regulates the flow of water that passes through the pipe installation by means of a mechanism formed by a sphere or ball, as its name indicates. This cylinder is formed by a perforation inside.

The opening of the water passage is controlled by means of a lever, turning it a quarter of a turn. This lever allows us to open or close the water passage when necessary and in a very simple and intuitive way.
Ball valves are very efficient and easy to use. They do not usually present any type of leaks, unless the installation has not been done correctly. In addition, they can be used both in the domestic and industrial environments.

Depending on the valve material we can differentiate between PVC ball valves y brass ball valves.

 

Butterfly valve

The butterfly valve is formed by a disk in the shape of a lentil inside that serves to regulate the passage of water. Opening and closing is activated by a 90 ° turn.

This type of valve is widely used for installations with large volumes of fluid and in different uses, such as for liquids with or without suspended solids. In addition, they are very light, easy to clean, resistant and the maintenance they need is minimal.

En Mundoriego We have two types of butterfly valve depending on its material: PVC butterfly valve y ductile iron butterfly valve. The choice of one or the other will depend on the needs of the installation. In the link of each of them we can see the technical specifications and the differences between each of them.

 

Gate valve

The gate valve, as its name suggests, is made up of a piece that is shaped like a gate or blade. This will be in charge of controlling the passage of water.

The gate will generally be closed, and when the gate is open, it will remain in the overhang of the valve. Therefore, the gate opening will be the same size as the pipe that passes through it.

These types of valves are normally used in drinking water distribution systems for human consumption.

The movement of the gate is activated by a piece located in the upper part. By rotating this piece, we control the position and height of the gate and, as a consequence, also the passage of water. This closure is hermetic, although it requires a lot of force to open or close it. It is a fairly inexpensive mechanism and its operation is very simple.

These types of valves are normally used in cold water networks, since hot water can accelerate the wear of the parts that compose it.
En Mundoriego We have two types of gate valves: elastic closing gate valve y register gate valve.

 

Retention valve

Check valves (also called non-return valves) have a device that allows fluid to flow in only one direction.

This type of valve is made up of two openings: one for the inlet of the fluid and the other for its outlet. The check valve works as follows: the force of the fluid causes the valve to open by forcing a disc and when the flow of fluid is stopped, it would close again automatically.

En Mundoriego We have different types of check valve: PVC check valve, brass check valve, ductile cast iron check valve, check valve System y chemical check valve.

 

✅ The PVC check valvesAs their name suggests, they are made of PVC-U. This type of material is very resistant to inorganic chemicals. Its installation is simple. They can be used in both vertical and horizontal installations. In addition, its maintenance is very easy.

✅ The brass check valves they allow the passage of fluids in a single direction. It can be used for the passage of cold and hot water, air, fuels or solvents.

They withstand pressures of up to 16 bar and a wide range of temperatures that can vary between -10 ° C and 90 ° C.

✅ The Ductile Cast Iron Double Disc Check Valves They are made up of one or two discs that open when water exerts pressure on them. Once that pressure is released, the valve will close automatically.

Ductile cast iron Check valves can be installed in both vertical and horizontal installations, making them an ideal solution for different types of installations.

They can be used in all types of waters, with temperatures up to 120 ° C. In addition, they resist pressures of up to 16 bar. These valves are available in a wide variety of diameters: from DN50 to DN300.

✅ The System check valves They are specially designed to allow the passage of water in only one direction. They are mainly used in the irrigation sector, swimming pools or installations aimed at water treatment.

They are made of plastic material and have three closing systems: free clapper, self-closing and self-closing visor. At Mundoriego we have check valves with diameters ranging between DN80 and DN250.

✅ The chemical check valves They are specially designed to resist chemical wear and tear.

These valves have a body made of glass-reinforced polypropylene, which makes it a highly resistant mechanism. It can be used both in the industrial sector and in agriculture. In addition, it supports a pressure of up to 20bar.

 

Pressure reducing valve

All the pressure reducing valves Their main function is to control that the water has a lower pressure than that established at the point of exit from the installation. In this way we avoid excess pressure and the appearance of breakdowns as a result of it.

The main thing is to set the appropriate pressure in the installation so that it remains constant, regardless of the flow and the pressure with which it arrives.

Within this category of valves we can distinguish between valves pressure reducing y pressure regulating valves:

✅ The pressure reducing valves They have a piston for their operation. In this way, we manage to keep the water pressure constant due to the variation in its pressure drop. This type of valve can work up to a maximum of 20 bars and with an outlet pressure between 0,5 and 6 bars. At Mundoriego we have this type of valve between RH 1/2 ″ and RH 2 ”.

✅ The pressure regulating valves They are used to ensure that the outlet pressure is constant, although it may experience some variations. In addition, pressure regulating valves can be used both in installations on the surface and in those installations where it is necessary to be buried.

 

Foot valves

The foot valve is a type of valve that is placed on a suction tube. This opens to allow the passage of water and closes to prevent the water from escaping. This type of valve is made up of a mobile cover that opens or closes when rotating on an axis. When suction current is produced, the lid opens and closes again when the flow stops.

? These valves can be of PVC, brass o Ductile function:

✅ PVC foot valves: they have a polypropylene basket at the end. Its function is to prevent large solid elements from entering the installation. In addition, they can be used in both horizontal and vertical installations.

✅ Brass foot valves: can be used in installations with temperatures ranging from -10 to 90 ° C. Its design is robust and quite silent. Their thread diameters vary between 3/4 "and 4".

✅ Ductile Iron Foot Valves: both the bell and the valve are made of ductile iron, as its name indicates, but the filters and screws are made of stainless steel and the shafts are made of brass. This type of valve prevents the entry of solid elements that can damage the components of the pumps. They are usually used in installations with aspirations that range between 125mm and 315mm.

 

Hydraulic valves

The main function of hydraulic valves is to shut off the water when the irrigation process has finished. One of the aspects to highlight of this type of valves is that they use the force of the water itself to regulate the flow. In addition, they can work by using external energy or autonomously, being able to be used in large and small irrigation areas.

En Mundoriego We have different types of hydraulic valves, classifying them into: plastic hydraulic valve, ductile iron hydraulic valve and hydraulic valve for chemical products. The choice of one or the other will depend on the use to be made of them.

✅ The plastic hydraulic valves They are quite resistant and hardly need maintenance. These types of valves are available in different thread diameters: (RH 1” - RH 3”), or with flange outlet (DN80-DN150).

✅ The ductile iron hydraulic valves They are made of ductile iron. These types of valves have a high resistance to corrosion. It is also available in different thread diameters (RH 1” - RH 3”), or with flange outlet (DN80-DN200).

✅ The hydraulic valves for chemicals They are specially designed to be resistant to chemical products and the wear and tear that these can cause. Available with different outlet diameters: RH 3/4″ - RH 6”.

 

Do you need advice? Get in contact with us and our team of professionals will help you choose the best option according to your needs, and remember that we are experts in water tank, water meter and in drip irrigation.