Pragmaticus Blog

Diaphragm valves or membrane valves, how it can be called, is one of the valves for industrial applications. These valves have different shapes and different functional purposes. This type, simply, consists of a valve body with two or more ports (depending on functional purposes), a diaphragm and seat upon which the diaphragm closes the valve (this seat is also called “saddle” in industrial language).
In simple terms, diaphragm valves are used as shut-off equipment in process systems. Originally, they were not considered for hygienic industries. But later, thanks to compact design, simple structure and some important adaptations, diaphragm valves became extremely clean, more flexible, can be easily integrated into automated applications and form a nearly leak-proof seal for tight shut-off. Besides, diaphragm valves design is abrasion-resistant and non-clogging. There are many advantages provided by these valves application. That’s why they have started to be used in life science industries, such as food and beverage manufacturing, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
As you can be convinced, diaphragm valves applications are wide. And each customer (or each industry) may have own specific requirements: size, technical indicators, different combinations of body materials (either plastic or steel) and elastomeric diaphragm materials.
They can be manual or automated. Each of these types has own pros and cons. Final choice is up to exact customer. Anyway, diaphragm valves are ideal for maintaining and controlling the flow of fluids containing suspended solids and offer the flexibility of being installed in any position. Industrial valves, such as diaphragm type, are high claimed in water treatment industries as well as in pharmaceutical. Made for exact requirements, i.e. materials type or mechanical properties, diaphragm valves have restrictions on temperature, pressure and materials’ type, flowing through pipeline.
They are presented by two most claimed types: “weir” (also called ‘saddle-type valves) and “straight-through” (or “straight-way”) valves.
The first one approaches for process applications (general use) or for tough corrosive and abrasive services more than the second one. Why so? Weir valve has two ports in line with each other on the opposite sides of the valve. Straight-through type, generally, is used in situations where the flow direction changes within the system, because this type of diaphragm valves has the in/out ports located at a 90 degree angle from one another and may have more than standard two ports complete set. It is necessary to add that when more than three ports are included in diaphragm valve it requires more than one diaphragm; however, special dual actuators can handle more ports with one membrane. In the questions of industrial valves choice there is nothing can be left to chance. That’s why it is important to choose experienced and reliable manufacturer, the manufacturer such as Pragmaticus. Our valves design provides for easy maintenance, replacing without disturbing the piping line and quick repair. Besides, they have extremely long lifetime, short actuation time (less or is equal to 10 milliseconds), and high reliability.
Without exaggeration it is possible to say that our diaphragm valves are very successful on the world industrial market. There are no less important details. Trust in professionals, trust in Pragmaticus.