A flapper valve is a simple one-way valve that prevents fluid or gas from flowing back into the tube. It has many applications and is easy to maintain, making it an attractive option for remote areas. The valve is remotely operated and comes in various sizes and designs. The flap component can be made from flexible materials, and the valves in the human heart are classic examples of this design.
A flapper valve is a simple one-way valve that allows gas or fluids to flow in one direction while preventing flow in the opposite direction. The valve accomplishes this with a spring-loaded or weighted flap placed across the opening of a pipe, tube, or conduit. The valve flapper releases in the desired flow direction and is forced open by the flow or remote means. When the flow ceases or the remote actuation disengages, the spring or weight of the flap closes it against a seal, effectively preventing fluid or gas from flowing back into the tube. The flapper valve also prevents unwanted foreign objects from entering the pipe or channel to which it is attached.
Flap valves are convenient and efficient one-way seals and have many different applications ranging from valves in large water treatment plants to small flush valves used in domestic toilets. Due to their inherent simplicity and lack of complex actuation systems, they are also among the simplest and cheapest valves to maintain. This makes the flapper valve an especially attractive option for systems that work hard and are rarely subjected to very high pressures. This simplicity also makes the flapper valves very effective for remote area applications where regular maintenance is not practical.
One of the most common domestic applications of the flapper valve is the home toilet. This type of flapper valve is remotely operated by the flush button or lever and lifts to allow water from the cistern to flow into the bowl to flush the toilet. Once the tank is empty, the valve is released to seal the waste pipe and allow the tank to fill up again.
Flap valves come in a wide range of sizes and designs ranging from small plastic valves one or two inches (about 3 to 5 cm) in diameter to huge stainless steel versions several feet in diameter. The basic principle of operation remains the same; as such, large flapper valves remain as simple and easy to maintain as their smaller counterparts. Large valves, however, are more likely to be opened by flows of higher pressure pumped fluid than the natural gravity drainage frequently encountered with small domestic valves.
The actual flap component of a flapper valve can also be made from a flexible material such as neoprene or silicone. The only real requirement for this type of valve to operate effectively is that the flap opens when subjected to normal flow through the conduit and forms a good seal when closed. The valves in the human heart are classic examples of a flapper valve, demonstrating the great simplicity and reliability of the design.
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