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SearchableIndustrial Valves and Pipes Built for Extreme Abrasion
In abrasive bulk material handling and slurry conveying systems, significant wear in a valve, pipe bend or sealing surface can turn a routine replacement into a larger maintenance job.
Unicast supplies valves, ceramic-lined pipes and elbows for these high-wear areas. Whether the task is routing dry material, controlling slurry flow or protecting a pipeline, determining the right product for the job starts with listing the type of media, flow requirements at the plant and key wear areas.
Valves and Pipes at a Glance
Unicast’s industrial valves and pipes include five product families for abrasive dry bulk material and slurry applications. Diverter valves route dry material; shut-off valves isolate dry pneumatic conveying lines; ceramic-lined slurry diverter valves redirect high-solids flow; UniBall three-way check valves serve slurry transport systems; and ceramic-lined pipes and elbows protect exposed pipeline sections. Product selection depends first on the material being handled and the function required at that point in the system.
Where Wear and Maintenance Problems Develop
With abrasive conveyance, all parts of the piping system wear; however, some components wear at much higher rates. These high-wear components include elbows, joints, size reducers, valves, and any component that changes flow direction. This change in direction, whether caused by an elbow or by volume changes in a valve, significantly increases turbulence and the impacts between the system walls and the material being conveyed. This impact causes the increased wear observed in these systems.
In unlined elbows and valves, abrasion can cause material failure significantly faster than in straight, non-turbulent areas. This allows a targeted approach to increasing a pipe conveyance system's wear resistance by reinforcing these components with abrasion-resistant materials.
Explore Valves and Pipes by Product Family
Diverter Valves
Unicast abrasion-resistant diverter valves redirect dry abrasive bulk material between discharge paths in gravity-fed or pneumatic conveying systems. With high-abrasion outlet areas protected with ceramic liners, start here when the operating requirement is to choose a route for materials such as cement, fly ash, coal fines, and metal oxides (powder).
Ceramic-Lined Slurry Diverter Valves
These 2-way valves redirect abrasive liquid-solid mixtures in slurry piping systems. They are the relevant family when the application involves high-solids slurry and valve wear or sealing is a concern.
UniBall Three-Way Check Valves
The UniBall is a three-way ball check valve for abrasive slurry transport. Its distinguishing consideration is service access: removable side doors and seats allow regular maintenance while the valve remains installed in the pipeline.
Ceramic-Lined Pipes and Elbows
These components protect pipeline sections, including elbows/bends where abrasive flow can accelerate internal wear. They are critical in systems with highly abrasive media flow, regardless of how the line is controlled or routed. Unicast offers both alumina and silicon carbide ceramic lining options.
Shut-Off Valves
Unicast shut-off valves provide positive isolation of abrasive media in unidirectional pneumatic conveying lines. Choose this family for a dry line that must be closed, rather than one that must redirect material to another outlet.
Butterfly Valves
A new addition to the Unicast valve range. More details coming soon.
Which Product Family Fits the Job?
| Required function | Material or system context | Product family to evaluate first |
|---|---|---|
| Route material between discharge paths | Dry bulk conveying | |
| Isolate flow in a line | Dry, unidirectional pneumatic conveying | |
| Redirect abrasive liquid-solid flow | High-solids slurry piping | |
| Provide a three-way check valve function with accessible service parts | Abrasive slurry transport | |
| Protect a worn pipe run or bend | Abrasive pipeline flow |
For other requirements not listed above, such as bidirectional flow, please contact one of our representatives today to help find a custom solution. Please note that this is a starting guide, not a claim that the products are interchangeable. The required valve function, operating conditions and connection details still determine fit.
Valves and Pipes for Dry Bulk and Slurry Systems
Mining
In mining and mineral processing slurry systems, ceramic-lined slurry diverter valves and UniBall three-way check valves serve different flow-control requirements. Ceramic-lined pipes and elbows protect pipeline sections exposed to abrasive movement, including changes in direction.
Protection Matched to the Component
Materials and construction vary across the range. Selected valves and pipe components use ceramic linings; other products use different wear surfaces or serviceable internal parts. The appropriate design depends on the product’s function, the material handled and conditions at the wear point.
Review each product page for its available materials, configurations and operating limits.
What Helps Identify the Right Product
Start with the required function and the material moving through the line. Useful information includes:
- Whether the system handles dry bulk material or slurry
- Whether the component must divert, converge, isolate or control flow, or protect piping
- Material characteristics and operating conditions (media composition, temperature, pressure)
- Existing dimensions, connections or drawings
- Maintenance access constraints and current replacement history
- Photographs of the worn component or installation
- The location and pattern of wear
Find the Right Valve or Pipe Component
Need help identifying the appropriate product family?
Provide the material handled, required component function, existing dimensions or drawings, operating conditions and any wear photographs. A Unicast wear parts specialist can review the application and direct the request to the relevant product range.