Balancing valve

Balancing valve - is a pipeline fitting with adjustable hydraulic resistance designed for throttling the flow of water. The principle of operation of the balancing valve is based on adjusting the necessary hydraulic resistance by changing the passage area of the valve.

Structurally, the balancing valve is similar to a shut-off valve, but unlike a valve, it has a specific shape of the gate, which determines a fixed relationship between the stroke of the stem and the water flow through the valve, which can be described by a linear or logarithmic law. In addition, the balancing valve allows for operation with an intermediate gate position, and the handle is equipped with an adjustment scale.

Application

Balancing valves are used in systems with a static hydraulic regime. They allow for manual, smooth adjustment of the water flow and maintain it at a set level only with an unchanged pressure drop between the inlet and outlet of the valve. Manual balancing valves are not recommended for use in systems where water flow fluctuates.

The predecessor to the manual balancing valve in domestic engineering systems was the throttle diaphragm (disc).

Advantages

• Low cost
• Simple adjustment
• Possibility of measurement or calculation of flow rate based on passage capacity
• High reliability and repairability

Disadvantages

• Not recommended for systems with dynamic regimes.

Similar names

• Balancing valve
• Manual balancing valve
• Throttling valve
• Manual regulating valve
• Manual adjusting valve

What can be replaced with

In systems with a static hydraulic regime, a throttle diaphragm can be used as an analogue of the balancing valve.

Depending on the function, in systems with a dynamic hydraulic regime, the balancing valve can be replaced with a pressure regulator, a pressure differential regulator, or a water flow regulator.