5 Ways to Enhance Your Check Valve Design

Check valve design involves multiple facets of an entire fluid transfer system. Manufacturers must consider each component and part, the system’s application, and where the system is serving.

If you are stuck on how to efficiently and effectively create a valve that’s going to work, consider these five points from RB Royal on how to enhance your check valve design.

Focus on Flow

• Rather than designing your check valve to only fit around the pipe diameter that it rests on, be sure to focus on designing the valve to operate near maximum flow rate. This ensures that the check valve can function properly and is better suited for DFM practices.
• It is a best practice to avoid oversizing, as this keeps the disc hovering near the seat and promotes premature failure throughout the check valve itself.

Check Valve Design Should Optimize Cracking Pressure

Check valves are essential in ensuring fluid flows one way through the fluid transfer system and preventing backflow. If there is an indication of backflow, the check valve should close and the flow will correct itself. In order to ensure the check valve stays open is by knowing the cracking pressure. That’s where optimizing the cracking pressure and spring selection is essential.

If possible, allow for testing of a design to ensure proper cracking pressure metrics have been accounted for and your check valve can work properly. Addressing cracking pressure in your design helps to eliminate potential defects during live application, such as partial openings (cracking pressure is too high) or partial closing, which can happen when cracking pressure is too low.

Consider Flow Geometry

Proper flow direction can be achieved during the check valve design, and relies heavily on the shapes within the valve itself. Consider these points to optimize flow and flow geometry.

• It’s encouraged to use disc and body geometries that maintain a near-full port area through the valve to minimize turbulence and headloss. Examples could be contoured bodies or angled seats.
• It is better to keep all surfaces smooth, along with gradual transitions in the valve, in order to prevent factors like erosion caused by high-velocity jets.   

Factor Known Failures Into Your Check Valve Design

Improperly designed and manufactured check valves can cause numerous problems in real-world applications. Common defects include unstoppable reverse flow, leaks, aggressive wear, and cavitation. Engineers can incorporate FMEA practices to mitigate these defects.

When FMEA practices are incorporated into your check valve design, this helps eliminate all of those potential defects that can stem from poor design, improper manufacturing, or a combination of the two.

Contact RB Royal Today to Enhance Your Check Valve Design

RB Royal manufactures all components of your fluid transfer system out of our Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, facility. From check valves to fittings, to the tubing and pipes, and everything in between, our skilled and experienced team has the knowledge necessary to produce the parts you need.

Enhancing your check valve design with RB Royal has never been easier. This is what our Design-ufacturing program is made for. Our design team will work closely with you to ensure your check valves are made to your exact specifications.

Contact RB Royal today for more information about how our design team can serve you, and let’s create something special together.