- January 13, 2022
- 6:43 pm
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Valves have been critical to instrument partnerships as well as service functionalities.
Different civilizations used these devices to regulate the circulation of the fluid in urban
and rural areas.
However, faced with climatic problems such as rains or overflows and without a
mechanical device, people found a way to regulate the water through wood or stones,
whose materials were barriers to prevent or divert circulation
This case can be seen as an antecedent to the first valves or, failing that, as the first tools
that carried out the functionality of a valve.
Egypt and the Roman Empire
Ancient Egypt was characterized by its great advances in science and technology, including
its contributions in air and water for irrigation and supply systems. It was discovered that
some of the tombs of the pharaohs contained check valves and non-return or wooden check
that drained the water in the interiors. Likewise, in terms of pneumatic pressure, in 1500
A.C. They were the first to use the bellows, a mechanical compressor that contains and
expels air.
In terms of engineering, the Roman Empire was one of the first to introduce water systems
that, through aqueducts, transported water from rivers and springs to cities. In the
constructions the use of male valves made of bronze material is registered. They were
composed of a drilled stem and a cam (mechanical element that allows a linear movement)
to be able to rotate the stem.
Renaissance Period
The development of hydraulic systems, channels and valves had a great momentum during
the renaissance with the birth of hydraulic engineering.
At this time Leonardo Da Vinci carried out important investigations that were protected in
his diary. In the archives there are designs of check valves and pneumatic pumps, in which
the study of the pressure and regulation of fluids is observed. His sketches allow us to
identify that the painter’s valves were very similar to how we know them today.
Industrial Revolution
In 1712 Thomas Newcomen invented the heat engine that worked at low pressures and
included a piston and a cylinder for the purpose of driving the piston forward. Later he
added a simple iron check valve to regulate the flow of steam to the piston, the process of
which is now identified as the throttle valve.
For his part, James Watt improved Newcomen’s invention and presented the first double-
acting engine, with a faster and more practical process for the vapors where it is distributed
on both sides of the cylinder. Watt’s input drove the rotary motion, the pressure gauge, as
well as the raising and lowering of the piston rod.
From the 19th Century to Today
In the 19th century, oil production allowed the development of the internal combustion
engine to process energy to carry out tasks and processes that are still essential today.
Control and globe valves were used precisely to make some of these engines work, and
throughout the devices were important for chemical and energy applications.
Currently valves are manufactured on a large scale throughout the world, they are
indispensable for everyday and industrial services. Thanks to the wide variety of valves that
exist, they can be applied for specific industrial processes, with different sizes, materials
and models.
Source of information:
- García, A. (2020). Un poco de historia sobre el mundo de las válvulas. VALVESEAL.
- (s.f.). El origen de las primeras válvulas. GRM.
- (s.f.). Historia de las válvulas. Valvias.
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