A plug valve is a right-angle rotary motion manual valve. It uses a cylindrical or conical plug (plug disc) to allow or prevent straight-through flow through the body. Plug valves provide a straight-through passage through a port so that fluid can flow through the open plug with minimal turbulence. Flow can be fully open or fully closed in either direction.
Plug valves have been used in many different fluid services. They perform well in slurry applications. They are used as on/off shutoff valves in airtight service. They are used in air, gas and steam service, natural gas and oil piping systems, food processing, non-abrasive slurries, vacuum, pharmaceutical service, and vacuum to high pressure applications. They are suitable for on-off valves, diverter service and moderate throttling. Originally, plug valves were intended to replace gate valves because, compared to gate valves, plug valves have a quarter-turn action and can be easily opened and closed against the flow.
