What is the difference between foot valve and check valve?
Foot valve is a kind of valve installed at the bottom of water pipeline such as well, pump outlet, etc. It usually consists of valve body, valve seat, spring, diaphragm and so on. Check valve is a kind of fluid control valve, its structure is similar to ordinary valves, by the valve body, valve cover, valve flap and spring and other components.
Although foot valves and check valves are both used in piping systems to prevent backflow of media, they have different working principles, structures, usage scenarios and installation methods, and are suitable for different environments and needs.
Overview
Differences in function：
Foot valve is mainly used to prevent the liquid in the pipeline back to the water source, play a role in protecting the pump and the water source;
Check valve is mainly used to prevent the medium in the pipeline backflow, to ensure one-way flow of fluids, but also used to reduce water hammer impact.
Differences in structure:
Foot valve is usually composed of valve body, valve seat, spring and diaphragm, etc., is a gravity valve, relying on fluid pressure and gravity to open and close;
Check valve is composed of valve body, valve cover, valve flap and spring, etc. It is a mechanical valve, relying on fluid pressure and spring force to open and close.
Differences in use scenes：
Foot valves are generally used in wellheads, storage tanks, the tail end of the liquid transportation system, etc., and are suitable for vertical flow and periodic movement of the medium;
Check valves are mainly used in industrial pipelines, such as water supply, drainage, oil, gas and other various piping systems, as well as fire, HVAC, air conditioning, residential water and other occasions, for high-speed flow and unidirectional flow of media.
Difference in installation mode：
Foot valve installation is relatively simple, usually only need to be installed in the bottom of the water pipeline;
Check valve installation depends on the specific piping configuration.
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