HomeApplicationsGlass, Ceramics & Refractory Industries

Application Guide

Valves for Glass, Ceramics & Refractory Industries

Glass and ceramics manufacturing uses abrasive slurries (ball mill, slip, glaze), high-temperature combustion gas and air to fuel kilns and furnaces up to 1,700°C, and steam for kiln humidity control and cogeneration. The valve challenges are extreme: ceramic slip (high-solids, abrasive) blocks conventional valves; combustion air at 300–600°C requires high-temperature butterfly valves; and natural gas to glass tank furnaces demands fire-safe isolation. Vajra Industrial Solutions supplies knife gate and pinch valves for slurry, high-temperature butterfly valves for combustion gas, and standard and IBR-certified gate valves for glass and ceramic plant utility and steam systems.

ASME B16.34IBR 1950 (Steam)API 609 (Butterfly)IS 6157 (Knife Gate)API 598EN 593 (Butterfly)
Get a Quote +91 9979774557

Recommended Valve Types for Glass, Ceramics & Refractory Industries

Knife Gate Valve

PN 6 / PN 10

Why: Ceramic slip, glaze, and ball mill slurry isolation — knife gate cuts through fibrous and particulate-laden media

Materials: SS316L blade with WCB body; UHMWPE or natural rubber seat for ceramic slurry abrasion resistance

Standards: IS 6157, ASME B16.34

View Knife Gate Valve products →

High-Temperature Butterfly Valve

PN 6 / PN 10

Why: Combustion air and gas damper duty for glass tank furnaces and tunnel kilns — disc temperature to 600°C

Materials: A217 WC9 disc for high-temp combustion air; graphite packing; high-temperature spring-loaded seat

Standards: EN 593, API 609, ASME B16.34

View High-Temperature Butterfly Valve products →

Pinch Valve

PN 6 / PN 10

Why: Abrasive ceramic slurry with high solid content — full-bore, no internal metal contact with abrasive slurry

Materials: WCB or SS316 body; natural rubber or EPDM sleeve; pneumatic or handwheel actuation

Standards: ASME B16.34

View Pinch Valve products →

Gate Valve (IBR Steam)

Class 300 / 600

Why: Cogeneration boiler and lehr steam humidity control — IBR Form III mandatory for Indian glass plants

Materials: A216 WCB; SS316 stem; graphite packing for high-temperature steam

Standards: IBR 1950, ASME B16.34, API 600

View Gate Valve (IBR Steam) products →

Critical Requirements

Ceramic slurry valves — abrasion resistance is primary selection criterion; hardened UHMWPE or ceramic-lined seats; knife gate or pinch valve design
Natural gas to glass furnace — fire-safe ball valves per API 607 on gas supply; solenoid-operated ESD for automatic shut-off on furnace trip
High-temperature combustion air damper — graphite or metallic packing; no PTFE or elastomers above 250°C
IBR certification for all steam valves above 3.5 kg/cm² — Form III-C and III-E mandatory for Indian plants
CIP of ceramic spray lines — caustic soda cleaning; EPDM or UHMWPE seats resist caustic soda in slurry lines
Large-bore combustion air — butterfly valves DN300–DN1200 for furnace combustion air; ensure no air leak on closure

Fluid & Service Challenges

⚠Ceramic slip (clay + water, 30–50% solids, pH 9–10.5) — highly abrasive; packs in valve cavities; requires regular cleaning
⚠Glaze slurry (metal oxide pigments) — fine abrasive; similar to ceramic slip but with heavy metal content (lead, cobalt, zinc)
⚠Combustion air (300–600°C) — above elastomer temperature limits; graphite or metallic seats required
⚠Natural gas to furnace — fire-safe and anti-static; SS316 or WCB body; PTFE seats
⚠Kiln cooling water — hard water in many ceramic regions; rubber-lined butterfly or WCB gate valves

Material Selection Guidance

Ceramic slurry: SS316L knife gate with UHMWPE seat or pinch valve — minimize metal contact with abrasive slurry. Combustion air above 250°C: WCB or A217 WC9 butterfly with graphite packing — no elastomers. Natural gas: WCB ball valve with PTFE seats, fire-safe API 607. Steam (IBR): WCB for standard steam; WC6 for superheat above 425°C. Glaze spray water: WCB ball valves — normal utility service.

Typical Service Points

Ball mill and slip preparation — knife gate and pinch valves (ceramic slip, abrasive, PN 10)
Glaze application line — SS316L ball and pinch valves (glaze slurry, DN15–DN80)
Glass tank furnace combustion air — large-bore butterfly valves (DN300–DN1000, 300–600°C)
Natural gas to furnace — fire-safe WCB ball valves with solenoid ESD actuator
Kiln lehr steam humidity — IBR gate and control valves (saturated steam, 3–10 bar)
Quench cooling water — rubber-lined butterfly valves (DN50–DN200, utility water)

FAQ — Valve Selection for Glass, Ceramics & Refractory Industries

Why are knife gate valves preferred for ceramic slip over ball valves?
Ball valves trap ceramic slurry in the body cavity behind the ball when the valve closes. As the slurry dries or settles, it packs hard into the cavity and prevents the ball from re-opening. The next attempted operation shears off the slurry cake — or the actuator stalls. Knife gate valves eliminate this problem by using a thin gate that cuts through the slurry with no body cavity behind it. Pinch valves are even better for the highest-solids slurry — the elastomer sleeve squeezes shut with no metal contact with the abrasive medium at all.
What is the maximum temperature for EPDM seats in combustion air butterfly valves?
Standard EPDM seats are rated for continuous service up to approximately 120°C and intermittent service to 150°C. For combustion air butterfly valves operating above 150°C (typical for glass furnace combustion air preheated to 300–600°C using recuperators), EPDM seats are not suitable. Specify: (1) metallic seats — stainless steel with Stellite hard-face for metal-to-metal seating; (2) graphite expansion seats; or (3) high-performance butterfly valves with triple-offset metal seat design (triple-offset butterfly valves seal metal-to-metal with an eccentric disc that cams into the seat, requiring no elastomer).

Related Application Guides

Valves for Power Generation (Thermal, Gas, Hydro)

Gate, globe, check, and safety valves for steam and condensate service in therma…

Valves for Mining & Mineral Processing

Knife gate valves, pinch valves, sleeved plug valves, and HDPE-lined butterfly v…

Valves for Chemical & Petrochemical Processing

Ball valves, globe valves, PTFE-lined and diaphragm valves in Hastelloy C-276, A…

Get a Quote

Glass, Ceramics & Refractory Industries

Send your process conditions or P&ID — we'll recommend and quote the correct valve specification within 24 hours.

Request a Quotesales@vajravyuh.com+91 9979774557WhatsApp for Quick Quote →

Key Standards

ASME B16.34
IBR 1950 (Steam)
API 609 (Butterfly)
IS 6157 (Knife Gate)
API 598
EN 593 (Butterfly)

Products for This Application

Gate ValvesButterfly ValvesPinch Valves

All Application Guides

Oil & Gas PipelinesPharmaceutical & Biotech (Cleanroom / Hygienic)LNG & Cryogenic ServiceWater Treatment & DesalinationRefinery & Petrochemical ProcessPower Generation (Thermal, Gas, Hydro)Marine & Offshore ServiceMining & Mineral ProcessingHVAC & Building ServicesChemical & Petrochemical ProcessingHygienic Food & Beverage ProcessingHydrogen & Clean Energy ServiceDesalination & High-Purity WaterPulp & Paper IndustryAmmonia & Fertiliser PlantsNuclear Power PlantsOffshore & Subsea ApplicationsCoke Oven & Steel PlantsEthylene Crackers & Olefin PlantsChlor-Alkali PlantsSugar & Ethanol PlantsGeothermal Power PlantsAir Separation Units (ASU)Compressed Gas & CNG SystemsBiogas & Biomass PlantsCarbon Capture & Storage (CCS)Fire Protection SystemsShipbuilding & Marine RepairDistrict Heating & Cooling SystemsPharmaceutical & Biotechnology PlantsGlass, Ceramics & Refractory IndustriesTextile & Dyeing Plants