Chemical Feed Department

Stance
Valves for Special Chemicals

No.

161

Revision
:

P1

Page:

1 of 5

Application:

Type of Feed System: Liquid

Stance:
The typical valve for most liquid chemical feed systems is a Schedule 80 PVC or
CPVC ball valve, unless noted otherwise.
All valves must be constructed of material that is similar to the piping material.
Valves that are 3 inches and larger are not to be ball type.
Throttling valves are not to be ball valves.
Aqua ammonia metallic ball valve
Carbon dioxide metallic ball valve
Dry pressurized chlorine metallic ball valve
Vacuum chlorine plastic PVC ball valve
Hydrogen peroxide metallic drilled ball valve
Lime slurry pinch valve
Methanol metallic ball valve
Polymer solution (3 inches and larger) butterfly valve
Powder activated carbon slurry weirless diaphragm valve or pinch valve
Sodium hydroxide plug valve
Sodium hypochlorite (0.8%) drilled ball valve
Sodium hypochlorite (12.5%) diaphragm valve
Sulfuric acid metallic ball valve
Rationale:
Most liquid chemicals are compatible with thermoplastic materials; therefore, a
Schedule 80 PVC or CPVC ball valve is acceptable. The ball valves are in-line, true
union, and full port. Teflon and Viton are the preferred materials for the seat and
seals. The operator is a lever, and the end connections are to be socket. Flanges
are acceptable where equipment connections are flanged.

Valve material must match that of the piping in which they are installed. Mixing
metallic valves with plastic piping or vice versa is unacceptable due to poor

File name:

Stance 161- Valves for

Special Chemicals

Date of issue:

12/9/2009

Date printed:

7/24/2015

Water Proprietary and Confidential

Prepared by:

Reviewed/Approved by:

Edward D. Vogt
Page 1 of 5

CONTROLLED when read online

Printed copy is UNCONTROLLED

Chemical Feed Department

Stance
Valves for Special Chemicals

No.

161

Revision
:

P1

Page:

2 of 5

connection strength. In addition, the valve material must be similar to the piping
material. Finally, the size of the valve must be the same as the pipe size.

Valves that are 3 inches and larger should not be ball type due to difficulty of
operation, weight, height, and installation. For plastics, butterfly or diaphragm type
valves should be considered. For metals, butterfly or gate valves should be
considered.

Aqua Ammonia - Valves in aqua ammonia service are Class 600, ASTM A 105
forged steel ball valves. The valves are in-line, three piece, bolted body, fire-safe,
and full port. The seat, washer, and seal material is Teflon, and the ball and stem
are stainless steel. The operator is a lever and the ends are socket weld. Plastic
valves are not used in aqua ammonia service due to chemical incompatibilities.

Carbon Dioxide Valves in carbon dioxide (pressurized gas and solution) service
are Class 600, ANSI B16.34 stainless steel ball valves. The valves are in-line, three
piece, bolted body, and full port. The body, ball, and stem are constructed of
stainless steel. The seat and seal are Teflon. The operator is a lever and the end
connection is socket weld. Plastic valves are not designed for pressurized carbon
dioxide gas service.

Chlorine Valves in pressurized chlorine gas service are Class 600, ANSI B16.34,
carbon steel ball valves. The valves are in-line, three piece, bolted body, and full
port. The seat and seal are Teflon. The body is carbon steel, while the ball and
stem are Monel or Hastelloy C. These valves are identified by the manufacturer as
Chlorine Valves. The operator is a lever and the end connections are socket weld.
Plastic valves are not designed for pressurized chlorine gas service.

Hydrogen Peroxide - Valves in hydrogen peroxide service are drilled ball valves.
The valve should be constructed of 316 series stainless steel. The valves are in-line
and full port, with socket weld connections, and Teflon seats and seals. As
hydrogen peroxide degrades, oxygen is released. To prevent this released oxygen
from becoming trapped inside the ball and over-pressurizing, a hole is drilled in the
ball such that the cavity is vented to the upstream side of the valve. Plastic valves
are not used in hydrogen peroxide service due to chemical incompatibilities.

Lime Slurry Valves in lime slurry service are Class 125/150, ASTM A48, cast iron
pinch valves. The valves consist of the valve body, elastomer sleeve liner, pinch

File name:

Stance 161- Valves for

Special Chemicals

Date of issue:

12/9/2009

Date printed:

7/24/2015

Water Proprietary and Confidential

Prepared by:

Reviewed/Approved by:

Edward D. Vogt
Page 2 of 5

CONTROLLED when read online

Printed copy is UNCONTROLLED

Chemical Feed Department

Stance
Valves for Special Chemicals

No.

161

Revision
:

P1

Page:

3 of 5

bars, pull bars, actuator shaft, actuator base plate or yoke, and assembly
hardware. The elastomer sleeve liner is Buna-N with polyester reinforcing cord ply,
the pull and pinch bars are AISI Type 316 stainless steel, and the end connection
are ASME B16.1, Class 125/150, flat faced flanges. The operator is a handwheel.
Plastic valves are not used in lime slurry service due to slurry abrasiveness.

Methanol - Valves in methanol service are Class 600, ASTM A 105 forged steel ball
valves. The valves are in-line, three piece, bolted body, fire-safe, and full port. The
seat, washer, and seal material is Teflon, and the ball and stem are stainless steel.
The operator is a lever and the ends are threaded. Plastic valves are not used in
methanol service due to chemical incompatibilities and National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) requirements).

Polymer Solution (larger than 3 inches) - It is very common for polymer solution
pipe sizes to be larger than 3 inches, and the optimum valve to use in these
instances is a PVC wafer style butterfly valve. The butterfly valve is Class 150, with
ASME B16.5 flanged connections. The shaft and stem are AISI 316 stainless steel,
the seat is Viton or EPDM, and the disc is PVC. Ball valves are not acceptable in this
size range due to operation difficulty.

Powder Activated Carbon Slurry Valves in powder activated carbon slurry service
are Class 150, stainless steel weirless diaphragm valve. The diaphragm is a twopiece, un-bonded EPDM, and the connections are ASME B16.1, Class 150, flat faced
flanges. The operator is a handwheel with travel-stop and a position indicator.
Valves in powder activated carbon slurry service can also be Class 125/150, ASTM
A48, cast iron pinch valves. The valves consist of the valve body, elastomer sleeve
liner, pinch bars, pull bars, actuator shaft, actuator base plate or yoke, and
assembly hardware. The elastomer sleeve liner is Buna-N with polyester reinforcing
cord ply, the pull and pinch bars are AISI Type 316 stainless steel, and the end
connection are ASME B16.1, Class 125/150, flat faced flanges. The operator is a
handwheel.

Sodium Hydroxide Valves in sodium hydroxide service are Class 150, carbon steel
plug valves. The plug valves are non-lubricated with a tapered plug constructed of
316 stainless steel. The plug seal and seal diaphragm are Teflon, and the end
connections may be socket weld or flanged. The operator is a lever. Ball valves are
not acceptable in sodium hydroxide service due to crystallization and the coating it

File name:

Stance 161- Valves for

Special Chemicals

Date of issue:

12/9/2009

Date printed:

7/24/2015

Water Proprietary and Confidential

Prepared by:

Reviewed/Approved by:

Edward D. Vogt
Page 3 of 5

CONTROLLED when read online

Printed copy is UNCONTROLLED

Chemical Feed Department

Stance
Valves for Special Chemicals

No.

161

Revision
:

P1

Page:

4 of 5

leaves on the ball surface. Eventually, these crystals will prevent the valve from
functioning properly.

Sodium Hypochlorite (0.8%) Valves in 0.8% sodium hypochlorite service are

Schedule 80 CPVC drilled ball valves. The drilled ball valves are in-line, true union,
and full port. Teflon and Viton are the preferred materials for the seat and seals.
The operator is a lever, and the end connections are socket or flanged. As sodium
hypochlorite degrades, oxygen is released (but much less than 12.5%). To prevent
this released oxygen from becoming trapped inside the ball and over-pressurizing,
a hole is drilled in the ball such that the cavity is vented to the upstream side of
the valve.

Sodium Hypochlorite (12.5%) Valves in 12.5% sodium hypochlorite service are

Schedule 80 CPVC diaphragm valves. The diaphragm valves are Class 150 with
socket weld or ASME B16.1 Class 150 flat faced flanges. The diaphragm is twopieced and unbonded. The piece exposed to sodium hypochlorite is Teflon, and
EPDM is used for the backing, although sometimes a third barrier is used between
the Teflon and the EPDM The operator is a handwheel with travel stop and position
indicator. Ball valves are not used in sodium hypochlorite service for two reasons.
The first is that sodium hypochlorite releases oxygen as it degrades and builds
pressure if trapped, such as it would be in a closed ball valve. The second is that
sodium hydroxide, which is a component of 12.5% sodium hypochlorite, will
crystallize on the ball and eventually render it inoperable. While a drilled ball valve
would correct the first issue, it will not correct the second. Therefore, ball valves of
any type are unacceptable in 12.5% sodium hypochlorite service.

Sulfuric Acid Valves in sulfuric acid are ANSI Class 600 Carpenter 20 Cb-3 UNS
NO8020 ball valves. The ball valves are in-line, three piece, bolted body, and full
port. The seats and seals are constructed of Teflon. The body, ball, and stem are
Carpenter 20 Cb-3 UNS NO8020. The operator is a lever and the ends are socket
weld. If flanged connections are used, flange diapers are required. Plastic ball
valves are not used in sulfuric acid service due to chemical incompatibilities.

Options/Alternatives:
Aqua ammonia Another acceptable valve for aqua ammonia service is a Class
150, ASTM A276-316 stainless steel ball valve. The valves are in-line, two piece,
end entry, and full port. The seat, washer, and seal material is Teflon. The body,
File name:

Stance 161- Valves for

Special Chemicals

Date of issue:

12/9/2009

Date printed:

7/24/2015

Water Proprietary and Confidential

Prepared by:

Reviewed/Approved by:

Edward D. Vogt
Page 4 of 5

CONTROLLED when read online

Printed copy is UNCONTROLLED

Chemical Feed Department

Stance
Valves for Special Chemicals

No.

161

Revision
:

P1

Page:

5 of 5

ball, and stem material is 316 stainless steel. The operator is a lever and the end
connection is a Class 150 flange.

Carbon dioxide solution Another acceptable valve for carbon dioxide solution
(carbonic acid) is a PVC or CPVC ball valve.

Sodium hydroxide (low-use valves) Valves in sodium hydroxide service that are
not used frequently, such as tank drain and p-trap assembly valves, may be
diaphragm type valves as described for 12.5% sodium hypochlorite. If diaphragm
valves are installed, they must have CPVC bodies and the piping is Schedule 80
CPVC. Sodium hydroxide will build up scale, so ball valves are not acceptable.

Sodium hypochlorite When metallic piping (titanium or Hastelloy C) is used, an

acceptable valve for sodium hypochlorite service (0.8% or 12.5%) is a drilled plug
valve constructed of Hastelloy C. The plug valve shall be straight-way and the body
and plug constructed of Hastelloy C. The end connections shall be Class 150 ANSI
B16.5 flanges and the operator shall be a lever. A small hole shall be drilled into
the plug to prevent sodium hypochlorite from becoming trapped between the body
and the plug. Due to the cost of these valves and the associated Hastelloy C
piping, they should only be considered when the required sodium hypochlorite
pressure is above the limits of Schedule 80 CPVC piping and valves.

File name:

Stance 161- Valves for

Special Chemicals

Date of issue:

12/9/2009

Date printed:

7/24/2015

Water Proprietary and Confidential

Prepared by:

Reviewed/Approved by:

Edward D. Vogt
Page 5 of 5

CONTROLLED when read online

Printed copy is UNCONTROLLED