Choosing the Right Valve Plate
The valve plate is an essential part of the valve assembly and act as a seal between different areas in the compressor. Because valve plates can be exposed to a punishing variety of pressures, temperatures, and chemicals, they need to be made of materials that can withstand the stress that they go through every time the compressor is used. In general, you have a choice between metallic and thermoplastic valve plates.
Metallic Valve Plates
Metallic valve plates are used in compressors for refrigerators, PET Bottle blowing equipment, and for air and process gas compressors, and are usually what the original equipment comes installed with. The best metallic valve plates are made of high-grade stainless steel. Stainless steel is resistant to the corrosive effects of water, certain acids, oil, gasoline, and atmospheric conditions. Laser profiling allows them to fit the exacting standards required for replacement valve parts, meaning they easily meet and often exceed the performance of the original equipment. Precision laser cutting and finishing processes help to optimize metal valve plates for long-term use.
Thermoplastic Valve Plates
High-performance thermoplastic makes for a truly superior valve plate in most applications. Because it is slightly flexible, thermoplastic valve plates are able to better conform to the valve seat even after extended use and exposure to debris. There are several different thermoplastic materials to choose from.
Glass-reinforced nylon has been used for years with excellent results. Nylon is best used for compressors that stay under 250° F. PEEK is a crystalline polymer that has a higher impact strength than nylon, along with lower moisture absorption, which gives it flexibility to a wide range of applications. Mid Temperature, or MT, is also glass-filled nylon but with a higher maximum temperature of 340° F.
Choosing the right material for your replacement valve parts is a matter of weighing the benefits to each application. Finding a reputable manufacturing company to supply your replacement valve parts can extend the life and improve the performance of your compressor.
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Metallic Plates
KB Delta manufactures and stocks a complete range of metallic compressor valve plates and rings for the natural gas, refrigeration and P.E.T. industries.
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Thermoplastic Plates
Our specialized precision tooling and proprietary lapping process gives our customers the highest quality thermoplastic plates and rings in the industry.
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Springs
We manufacture our own springs and stock over 2 million springs for a variety of OEM spring styles, forms and materials.
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Peripheral Valve Internals
KB Delta offers one of the most complete lines of valve internals in the industry. All of our parts are manufactured to OEM Standards in performance and efficiency.
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Complete Valve Repair Kits
KB Delta offers a full line of valve repair kits for all the major reciprocating compressor manufacturers.
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P.E.T. Compressor Parts
KB Delta specializes in manufacturing compressor valve parts for high pressure air compressors used in the P.E.T. plastic bottle manufacturing industry.