Pinch Valve – A Valve that Used in Slurry Application

The pinch valve is also known as clamp valve. It is a linear motion valve. Used to start, regulate, and stop fluid flow. It uses a rubber tube, also known as a pinch tube and pinch mechanism to control the fluid. This valve is the simplest in any valve design.

Pinch tubes are manufactured of natural or synthetic rubbers and sometime plastics which have good abrasion resistance properties. Most pinch valves are open style in which the pinch tube is exposed. However, another style fully encloses the pinch tube within a metallic body. You can see both the design in the image.

Pinch Valve – Application

It is ideally suited for the handling of slurries, liquids with large amounts of suspended solids, and systems that convey solid material pneumatically.

Pinch Valve – Advantages

• It can be used for application where corrosion or metal contamination of the fluid might be a problem. Flow from the valve is straight without any obstruction.
• There are no internal moving parts in contact with the fluid hence, low maintenance cost.
• Inexpensive due to simple construction

Pinch Valve – Disadvantages

• It cannot be used in high temperature-pressure applications and gas media.