In any type of facility where chemicals are used or produced, ensuring the top quality in parts and components is an essential consideration. Cutting corners and using cheap parts and components for anything, including the pipe, valves, and fittings is potentially a significant health and safety factor to consider.
One of the simple and more basic components in any type of processing system is a check valve. Also known as a non-return or one-way valve, these valves operate automatically in the line and do not require any type of power actuation systems or manual controls.
In systems where corrosive or aggressive types of media are present, using chemical check valves is critical. As with any type of check valve, the prevent any backflow of media through the valve, eliminating the risk of contamination or even dangerous mixtures of chemicals in the system.
Important Distinctions
At first glance, chemical check valves do not look any different from other types of plastic valves. They are streamlined and lightweight, and they offer a durable valve option that can withstand temperature ranges and typical system pressures and flow rates.
The difference in chemical check valves is the use of specialized types of resins and coatings that inhibit any corrosion or damage from the contact of the chemical on the wetted surface of the valve. Most commonly PTFE or polytetrafluorethylene coating is used, which is a non-stick surface with a commercial name of Teflon.
Eliminating the possibility of the chemical accumulating on the interior of the valve means the valve has a long life cycle. They are also not going to have the high replacement rates and the potential corrosion and reactivity that is found in standard types of check valves, including those made of other types of resins.