Flow control valves regulate the flow and pressure of the fluids that move throughout them. They respond to signals created by independent devices like a flow meter or temperature gauge.

Flow control valves have actuators and positioners. The control valves can work as pneumatically-actuated globe valves or can work with hydraulic actuators, or hydraulic pilots. Pneumatically-actuated globe valves are used in many industries for control purposes, but ball, butterfly, and other quarter-turn valves are common as well. Hydraulic pilots, on the other hand, respond to pressure and flow changes, allowing them to open or close the valve in an automatic response. They do not require an external power source, which means the fluid pressure can open and close the valve on its own without outside aid.

Automatic control valves, another name for hydraulic actuators, altitude valves, back-pressure sustaining valves, pressure reducing valves, relief valves, and of course flow control valves.

There are several features that flow control valves maintain as a whole, regardless of what type they are. They include the following:

• Must maintain constant flow.
• For corrosive and ultra pure liquid applications.
• No metals in contact with the liquid.
• Standard flow ranges from 1/4 GPM to 120 GPM (1.0 l/m - 454.2 l/m).
• Automatic in operation.

Pumps are frequently involved with flow transfer and control to move materials, such as liquids, colloids, slurries, and most importantly gas, from one are to another. This is involved majorly in areas such as cantilever, centrifugal, dosing, diaphragm, dosing syringe, double diaphragm, gear (positive displacement), jet, love, metering, peristaltic, piston, rotary vane, turbine, vacuum and waste pumps, which are part of their main function in the semiconductor industry.

Flow transfer and control sensors are also directly involved with flow control valves. These include a wide variety of detectors, flow controllers, meters, and switches. They are designed to analyze the quality of and meter flow as well as transfer rates or detect any leaks of either liquids or gases.