Flow Control Valves

TECH TIPS: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FLOW CONTROL AND A NEEDLE VALVE IS EXPLAINED

Flow controls and needle valves are both used in reducing the rate of flow in a leg of a pneumatic circuit, and the terms are often used interchangeably, but there are a few key differences between the two products.

Flow controls control media flow in only one direction, allowing free flow in the opposing direction, while needle valves control media flow in both directions. Both feature finely threaded stems to allow gradual adjustment of the flow.

Additionally, there are two separate kinds of flow controls: media-in and media-out. Media-in restricts the influx flow to an actuator, while media-out restricts the exhaust flow.