Globe valves and check valves are undoubtedly familiar to most people as standard valve types; however, a valve manufacturer from Tianjin is here to explain the differences between them regarding their opening/closing mechanisms, structural dimensions, application environments, and respective advantages and disadvantages.

The opening and closing element of a globe valve is a plug-shaped disc with a flat, conical, or spherical sealing surface. Driven by the valve stem, the disc moves linearly up and down along the valve seat (sealing surface). The stem has a relatively short travel distance for opening or closing, ensuring highly reliable shut-off action. As the disc moves along the axis of the valve seat, it connects or cuts off the flow of the medium within the pipeline. Globe valves feature a simple structure; once opened, there is no contact between the valve seat and the disc's sealing surface, resulting in minimal mechanical wear and friction. This leads to a long service life, ease of manufacture and maintenance, and good flow regulation capabilities, making them extremely widely used.

The globe valve is a common type of shut-off valve used primarily to connect or cut off the medium in a pipeline; it is generally not used for flow rate regulation. While globe valves are suitable for a wide range of pressures and temperatures, they are typically used for small- to medium-diameter pipelines. Based on their body structure, globe valves are classified into straight-through, Y-pattern (direct-flow), angle, and plunger types. In recent years, driven by developments in sectors such as the defense and nuclear power industries, there has been a demand for zero-leakage globe valves in certain systems. To meet this requirement, bellows seals are added alongside standard packing seals; this dual-sealing arrangement ensures zero leakage in critical systems (Figures 1–3).

Check valves feature a disc that opens and closes automatically in response to the force of the medium, serving to prevent fluid backflow. They are installed in pipelines where unidirectional flow is required—specifically, where fluid moves from the inlet side to the outlet side. When the pressure on the inlet side drops below that of the outlet side, the disc closes automatically—driven by factors such as fluid pressure differential and gravity—to prevent backflow. Common types include swing check valves, lift check valves, and butterfly check valves.

Lift check valves are available in two configurations: vertical and horizontal. Swing check valves are classified into single-disc, dual-disc, and multi-disc types. Butterfly check valves are of the straight-through type. The body of a swing check valve resembles that of a gate valve; the disc rotates around a pin fixed to the valve body to open or close the pipeline (Figure 1-4).