Needle valve

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A needle valve is a type of valve having a small orifice and a threaded, needle-like plunger. It allows precise regulation of flow, although it is generally used for, and is capable of, only relatively small flow rates.

[edit] Construction and operation

A needle valve has a relatively small orifice with a long, tapered, conical seat. A needle-shaped plunger, on the end of a screw, exactly fits this seat. As the screw is turned and the plunger retracted, flow between the seat and the plunger is possible; however, until the plunger is completely retracted the fluid flow is significantly impeded. Therefore, and since it takes many turns of the fine-threaded screw to retract the plunger, precise regulation of the flow rate is possible.

[edit] Uses

Needle valves are usually used in flow metering applications, especially when a constant, calibrated, low flow rate must be maintained for some time, such as the idle fuel flow in a carburetor.

Since flow rates are low and many turns of the valve stem are required to completely open or close, needle valves are not used for simple shutoff applications.

Since the orifice is small and the force advantage of the fine-threaded stem is high, needle valves are usually easy to shut off completely, with merely "finger tight" pressure. Small, simple needle valves are often used as bleed valves in hot water heating applications.

Unlike a ball valve, it is impossible to tell from examining the handle position whether the valve is open or closed.