Introduction:
A valve can be described as a mechanical device and we can utilize this device to control the flow of liquid and gas. It can allow or block the flow of gas or liquid. A valve would be composed of a movable part and based on the movement of this part a valve would control the flow. There are several types of valves and some of them would have more ports. A valve can regulate, mix, isolate, or block the flow.
What is a valve port?
A port is the maximum opening in a valve to allow the flow and during this time the valve would be fully open. Basically, it is the passage through the valve. So it is a part of the valve and it would be blocked to control the flow through the valves. Mostly, valves would normally have two ports but there are certain valves that have more than two ports. Valves would be connected to the pipeline through ports.
Most multiport valves are plug valves, these valves are either round or taper cylinders. The types of multiport valves are based on the port opening area. There is a rectangular port, round port, and diamond port.
Rectangular port:
This is the most common type of port for plug valves. Seventy percent of the cross-sectional area of the pipe would be this port.
Round port:
This type of valve is available in full-bore and reduced-bore designs. Mostly it has reduced ports and the reduced ports are used when the flow restriction is not that much important.
Diamond port:
Mostly this type of valve is used for throttling services it has a diamond-shaped port. Most of the diamond port valves are venturi-restricted flow types.
What is the purpose of the Multiport valve and how does it work?
A multiport valve is utilized in transfer lines it is used to divert the flow. A multiport valve would have more than two ports. Multiport valves are mostly utilized as shutoff valves. A multiport valve can replace three or four gate valves or certain types of shut-off valves. We must make sure that the port arrangement in these valves is proper to carry out the operations properly. It would be able to change the flow direction by closing the port In a multiport valve, there would be more than one flow path and one will be shut off while the other would be open to divert the flow. So when the fluid passes through it one path would be shut off and the other one would be opened. Certain types of multiport valves are capable to provide simultaneous flow to more than one port.
What are the types of multiport valves?
3-way multiport valve:
In this type of multiport valve, there would be three ports, and thus three connections for the inlet and the outlet. Flow can be diverted into two sections by utilizing this valve. It can also be used for the flow deviation with the isolation of the flow.
4-way multiport valve:
Mostly these types are used for directional control and it is not possible to do the isolation properly. These valves are not capable to handle high pressure without any leakage. These valves are capable to do flow reversal.
What are the advantages of multiport valves?
Multiport valves can replace several valves and thus the number of valves would be reduced and also the complexity too.
These valves can be utilized for manual and automated operations
It can reduce the cost by replacing several two-way valves in a piping system
Multiport valves would be manifold or tandem mounted and this would be useful for the centralized control
It would protect the pumps
Pressure drop would be reduced because of its full port diameter
Fittings would be reduced
What are the disadvantages of the multiport valve?
Some Multiport valve configurations are not capable of completely shutting off the flow.
What are the major applications of multiport valves?
It can be used to divert the flow
Vacuum service
Fluid bending can be done by these valves
Switching between equipment such as pumps and filters
It can also be used for different process
Starting and stopping the flow
Non-abrasive slurries
