Buying Sanitary Valves: Six Factors to Consider

A sanitary valve is the standard choice for industries that depend on clean and sterile processing such as dairy, food, pharmaceutical, and chemical applications. The valve has a polished inner surface and is easy to clean.

When choosing the right sanitary valves, it’s important to be aware of the following considerations:

Kinds of Valves

Every type of sanitary valve has a specific purpose. Some of the common valves you can find on the market include sanitary ball valves, butterfly valves, angle seat valves, diaphragm valves, and others. Buy the right kind of value for your requirement. You can consult with the seller to help you make the right choice.

Valve Connection

A sanitary valve features a range of end connections that include tri-clamp, butt-weld, threaded, and I-line connections. Pick an end connection that matches the pipework’s connection point, the usage of the valve, the frequency of dismantling, as well as the pressure and temperature of the liquid it has to handle.

The Building Material

You can buy a sanitary valve with either a plastic or metal body. A metal body can be made of stainless steel, brass, bronze, cast iron, or copper while a plastic valve body can be made of PVC or CPVC. In terms of acid-resistance and stainless steel, most industries choose the AISI material which is the American Standard.

Inner Surface Finish

Aside from valves, sanitary components such as fittings and tubes require a proper and smooth interior finish because it makes them easy to clean and maintain their application sterility. When it comes to various types of finish, you must be aware of terms such as Grit and Ra. Grit is the standard to measure the surface scratches in per linear inches in abrasive pads. A surface with a higher Grit tends to have a smoother finish. Meanwhile, Ra measures the average number of peaks and valleys on a surface. A surface with a lower Ra will have a smoother finish.

Valve Actuation

Besides manual operation, a sanitary valve also features electric and pneumatic actuation. Also, the valve can be fitted with C-TOP and IL-TOP modules.

Resistance-Based Seal or Seat Material

Seal and Seat materials include Buna, ethylene propylene (EPDM), silicone, VITON (FPM), and Teflon (PTFE). NBR is the most frequently used rubber for technical applications because of its high resistance to hydrocarbons such as oil and grease. EPDM is resistant against the majority of materials used in food products manufacturing. Silicone is a temperature-flexible material used in making seals and seats. FPM can stand up to 400 F which makes it an ideal choice for seals that must endure high temperature. Lastly, PTFE is resistant against all types of water and water-based wetness.