What is the purpose of a globe valve in a piping system?

The purpose of a globe valve in a piping system is primarily to throttle or restrict the flow of fluid. This type of valve is designed with a spherical body that allows for precise control over flow rate due to its unique design, which includes a movable disk (or plug) that can be adjusted to varying degrees.

As the disk is raised or lowered, it can partially block the flow path, enabling the operator to control the amount of fluid passing through the valve. This feature makes globe valves particularly useful in applications where fine adjustments to flow are necessary, such as in heating or cooling systems, chemical processing, and other situations where maintaining a specific flow rate is critical.

While globe valves can also be used to stop flow completely when closed, their main advantage lies in their functionality for throttling. Other types of valves, like gate valves, are better suited for completely stopping or allowing full flow. This distinction is important in understanding how to select the appropriate valve type based on the requirements of a specific application.