Compressor valves
Suction and discharge valves for reciprocating compressors
Suction and discharge valves control the gas exchange in the cylinder. They are self-acting: the suction valve opens as soon as cylinder pressure drops below suction pressure, the discharge valve as soon as it exceeds discharge pressure – both are closed by spring force. Mangione Consulting from Solingen, Germany, designs suction and discharge valves for reciprocating compressors and supplies them ready to install or as spare-part kits – to our own design, to your drawing or from a sample.
Valve types
- Plate valves with slotted valve plate – the most common design in process compressors
- Ring valves with individual sealing rings instead of one continuous plate
- Concentric valves combining suction and discharge valve in one unit
- Ready to install or as a spare-part kit: valve seat, guard, valve plates, springs and damper plates
How to recognise a faulty valve
- Leaking discharge valve: hot, already compressed gas flows back into the cylinder. The temperature at the discharge valve cover rises and capacity drops.
- Leaking suction valve: gas is pushed back into the suction side. The suction valve cover gets warm and capacity drops.
- Broken plate or spring: often the result of incorrect spring force, an unsuitable lift or liquid in the gas.
Replacing only the broken part often just replaces the symptom. That is why we check the cause against your operating data.
Designed for your operating point
We calculate lift, spring force, flow area and plate material for your gas or gas mixture, your pressures, temperatures and speed – with our own software and calculations for pressures up to 500 bar. If operating conditions change, we redesign the valve. More on valve design
Capacity control
For capacity control via the suction valves we supply matching unloaders (pneumatic unloader heads), direct-acting or spring-loaded. See spare parts
Frequently asked questions
Do you supply original parts?
No. We supply matching alternative parts, designed and specified under our own responsibility.
Can I order only valve plates and springs?
Yes, as individual parts or as a repair kit.
What do you need for a quotation?
The compressor nameplate, a photo or drawing of the valve, gas type, suction and discharge pressure, temperatures and speed.
Send us a drawing, photo or nameplate
Send whatever you have – drawing, photo of the sample, nameplate or operating data. We usually reply within 24 hours on working days.