Valves have evolved into essential components of modern industrial systems. Their origins can be traced to ancient China, where the Shu people first used hollowed bamboo with wooden plunger valves to extract brine for salt. Over time, valves have become vital in fluid delivery systems, with functions including flow shutoff, flow regulation, backflow prevention, and pressure relief. They can control a wide range of substances, including gases, liquids, solids, and multi-phase flows. To meet the diverse needs of modern industries, valve sizes now range from millimeters to 10 meters in diameter, with operating pressures ranging from a few kPa to several MPa. Additionally, valves are designed to withstand extreme temperature conditions, from cryogenic levels of -269°C to high temperatures exceeding 1000°C.
In 2022, the global industrial valve market was valued at approximately $520 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3% from 2018 to 2022. This market is projected to continue growing, reaching an estimated $659.6 billion by 2029. The United States is the largest importer of valves, while China is the leading exporter. In 2022, China imported around $10 billion worth of valves, with an average unit price of $70,000, predominantly targeting the mid-to-high-end market. China is home to nearly 10,000 valve manufacturers, collectively producing over 300 valve models and 40,000 specifications.
In recent years, the growth of domestic valve brands and advancements in manufacturing technology have reduced China’s reliance on imported valves. Domestic valves are increasingly replacing imports and are poised for significant growth. Historically, China’s valve industry focused on producing low-pressure, moderate-temperature, and soft-medium valves, with high-performance valves being largely dependent on foreign brands. However, recent advancements in design, manufacturing, and information technologies have significantly enhanced the capabilities and performance of domestic valves. These innovations have expanded valve applications, improved reliability, lowered maintenance costs, and ensured that domestic valves meet the evolving demands of modern industry.
Valves are diverse and can be categorized based on factors such as structural design, size, pressure rating, connection method, operation type, and other relevant criteria. In industrial applications, valves are typically classified by their functions as follows:
- Valves used for connecting or isolating pipeline media, including butterfly valves, ball valves, gate valves, globe valves, diaphragm valves, plug valves, and rotary ball valves.
- Valves used for regulating or controlling pipeline media, such as regulating valves, throttle valves, and pressure-reducing valves.
- Valves used for diverting or distributing pipeline media, including multi-channel ball valves.
- Valves for preventing backflow, such as check valves.
- Valves for separating different media in pipelines, such as steam traps.
- Valves for specialized applications, including safety valves and multi-functional water control valves.
To ensure valves are designed according to rigorous engineering standards, model coding systems have been established by engineering design teams. These standards define key specifications such as valve type, connection method, pressure rating, internal materials, packing, gaskets, bolts, and any special requirements. As industrial systems become increasingly complex, the variety of valve types will continue to expand, and performance requirements will become more stringent.
Valves are critical components in petrochemical production, which involves equipment such as reactors, separation towers, heat exchangers, and distillation towers, along with their connecting pipelines. These valves play a vital role in connecting pipelines and facilitating fluid flow, isolation, regulation, and flow reversal. Their stability and safety are essential to ensuring the reliability and success of the production process.
As refining equipment grows larger and more complex and crude oil quality declines, the operating conditions for petrochemical valves have become increasingly demanding. Modern valves must provide enhanced wear and corrosion resistance, high-temperature tolerance, reliable sealing with minimal leakage, extended service life, and ease of maintenance. These evolving requirements present significant challenges for valve manufacturers, requiring them to meet increasingly stringent standards. In the hydrocarbon and natural gas sectors, valves account for about 8% of the investment in new chemical plants, with repairs representing up to 10% of equipment upgrade costs. The economic impact of valve failures and leaks becomes more significant as the value of process fluids rises.
The demand for valves is driven primarily by industries such as petrochemicals, energy and power generation, oil and gas, water treatment, and papermaking. Within these sectors, domestically manufactured low- and mid-range industrial valves—characterized by low technical complexity and minimal qualification requirements—are in high demand and widely used. Government-led initiatives by organizations such as the National Energy Administration and the China Machinery Industry Federation have accelerated the localization of high-end valves. These include, for example, valves for nuclear power, ultra-supercritical valves for thermal power plants, valves for challenging coal chemical environments, and ultra-low-temperature LNG valves. Domestically produced high-end valves now account for over 60% of the market.
In industries such as petroleum refining, coal chemicals, fine chemicals, thermal power generation, nuclear power, and LNG receiving stations, certain critical valves for key processes have been fully replaced by domestically manufactured alternatives. In other areas, domestic valves have seen significant adoption and continue to gain traction through ongoing collaboration and research. The first domestically designed and manufactured rapid cut-off isolation butterfly valve for nuclear power plant containment systems was developed for immediate isolation during reactor loading or unloading operations. This valve closes within one second and meets stringent requirements, including radiation resistance and earthquake resilience. This innovation bridges the domestic technological gap and matches the performance of foreign counterparts.
In ultra-supercritical thermal power plants, the largest-diameter vacuum butterfly valve, which supports feedwater pump steam turbines, ensures reliable isolation during maintenance operations. It prevents leaks that could compromise vacuum levels and potentially trigger a main steam turbine trip. This advancement closes the domestic technology gap and meets both national and international standards. The high-pressure cryogenic ball valve for natural gas liquefaction units, once reliant on imports, has now been successfully domestically manufactured. The valve incorporates a redundant multi-seal design, supported by low-temperature compensation calculations. Key components include a failure protection mechanism to improve operational reliability. This development addresses the domestic technological gap and aligns the product with advanced foreign counterparts.
The three-eccentric butterfly valve, designed for large-diameter cryogenic applications in natural gas liquefaction units, features an all-metal sealing pair. It also imposes stringent requirements for sealing surface precision and roughness. Enhancements, including axial limit control, friction-reduction measures, and low-temperature compensation, significantly improve durability. This innovation bridges the domestic technology gap and aligns with the performance of advanced foreign valves.
