Fuels and gases can be a bit destructive. A tragic accident involving gases — like an explosion — can cause a huge loss of lives and property. This is the reason why the best means of transport for fuels, gas and vapor is pipelines, usually underground. However, some of the fluids transported in pipelines can have corrosive properties or elements in them.
This means that after a period of time after a fluid has been transported for a while using pipelines, They start to corrode the pipelines which can eat up the material from which the pipeline has been created and in turn cause a leak in the pipeline. A pipeline leak can be very devastating. It can be a bit difficult to find the source of the leakage and repair it. Repairing a pipeline will require that you stop the flow of the fluid inside the pipeline at a certain point so as to allow either replacement or reinforcement of the pipeline.
You will need to implement pipeline corrosion protection methods when a pipeline fails. In order to do that effectively, you will need to install valves at certain points in the pipeline. Valves are very helpful at maintaining a pipeline. There is a wide range of valves that can be installed on a pipeline.
1. Ball Valves
Ball valves are very easy to operate. They also require just a little amount of motion to completely shut off the flow of the fluid in the pipeline. All that needs to happen is a simple 90 degree turn and the pipeline is either completely closed or completely opened. This is very essential when there is a need for emergency pipeline corrosion protection methods. The valve is able to do this using a simple ball shaped disk that either opens or closes to control the flow of the gas. The small disk has small holes on it. When they stay in line with the inlet allowing for passage, the ball valves are most commonly used for gas, air and liquids.
2. Butterfly valves
Butterfly valves are a very common type of valve. They are implemented in most pipelines because of their efficiency and simplicity and light material. They operate almost the same as ball valves. This is because they are also easy to operate and take a short time to completely open or close the pipeline. Butterfly valves have a simple metal plate which is supported at the middle by a strong and rigid metallic rod. When the plate is turned through an angle of 90 degrees, the metal plate stay parallel to the flow of the fluid in the pipeline hence opening the pipeline.
3. Gate valves
Gate valves are also very easy to operate. They are also used to either close or open the pipeline and allow for flow of the fluid in the pipeline to allow for implementation of pipeline corrosion protection methods. The gate valves can however not be used to regulate the amount of fluid passing through them. They either open or close the pipeline. This means that they cannot be partially opened as it would destroy the metal plate.
4. Globe valves
Unlike gate valves, butterfly and ball valves, the globe valves have the ability to regulate the flow of the fluid in the pipeline without being damaged by the pressure of the liquid. The only disadvantage, however, is that the globe valves require a longer time to operate than the ball and butterfly valves. The amount of fluid flowing through the valve is determined by the amount of distance left between the valve plug and the valve seat.
5. Diaphragm valves
The way the diaphragm valves operate is very simple. They operate in the same way as applying pressure in the middle part of a flexible pipe to stop flow of the fluid in the pipe. The one disadvantage involved with diaphragm valves is their inability to last for a long period of time while still functioning perfectly. A diaphragm valve requires constant replacement and/or repair. Diaphragm valves are most common with liquid transport. A diaphragm valve contains a simple diaphragm-like plate which can be either be pulled down away from the floor of the pipe to open or pushed down towards the floor of the pipeline to close and stop flow of the fluid.
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