In the last SmartNews, we covered Stage I: Shut, and now we're continuing to breakdown the process of valve function with Stage II: Opening. 

Stage II of Check Valve Operation is a balancing act between being shut in Stage I and open in Stage III.  The nature of check valves do not allow them to be switched on and off, and this stage should be noted in order to create the optimal valve for your current and future applications.   

Once pressure has increased just enough to counter the force of the spring holding the O-ring against the seat, a small amount of flow will escape.  Depending on your application, this stage can be viewed one of two ways: as an insignificant or significant amount of flow.  Will the initial opening of a valve affect your application? The answer will help us create the ideal valve to meet your project’s requirements because we’re able to pair the right spring pressure with the right O-ring in order to control flow between stage II (barely open) and stage three (open). 

O-rings & The Cartridge Seat

Another consideration of Stage II is to understand the key role of O-rings and the cartridge seat.  To the naked eye, O-rings appear perfectly smooth, but when examining them under a microscope they have tiny imperfections – it’s through these ridges and gaps that flow escapes during Stage II.   
Our expert knowledge of O-rings allows us to have some control over a valve’s performance by:   

  • washing O-rings twice to remove any debris 

  • curing O-rings to affect their properties via various methods (i.e. sulfur, peroxide, etc.)  

  • prescribing a soak test (if needed) to determine chemical compatibility  

  • selecting O-ring materials and durometer, as well as spring force to be an ideal match for a specific design criteria 

 

O-rings are available in Buna-N, Ethylene-Propylene, Viton®, Silicone, Fluorosilicone, Aflas, and Kalrez®.  We also offer an O-ring's durometer (hardness of rubber) on a scale of 50 (soft) to 80 (hard). Available durometer will vary for each O-ring material. 
An ideal environment for these components is different depending on how the valve is being used, but we can customize components to optimize a valve’s performance characteristics for any application.  Once O-rings are selected, they are wedged into the cartridge seat to create a seal.   


Remember, no valve is completely leak free because of their physical properties, but we test 100% of all valves to ensure they seal. Based on your project needs, a Product & Application Specialist can help you create an ideal valve to ensure smooth check valve operation between Stages II, III, and beyond.

 

Give us a call today at (800) 338-0404 or visit www.smartproducts.com. 



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About Smart Products, Inc.

Smart Products, Inc., located in Morgan Hill, California, designs and manufactures an extensive family of plastic valves, pumps, and related components. Designed to allow a virtually limitless number of possible combinations to fit specific needs, products are used in a wide range of applications, including medical diagnostic and treatment, gas analysis, filtration, beverage dispensing, printing, and many others. The company also offers custom design capabilities, special testing, and custom assemblies.