The world's decreasing freshwater resources and expanding population will drive significant growth in desalination plants. Various regions which extend beyond arid zones are actively working to decrease their reliance on groundwater resources. Desalination currently supplies fresh water to approximately 400 million people annually while the demand continues to rise. POV functions as the global supplier of valves, actuators and controls for desalination operations.

The two main seawater desalination methods include vacuum distillation and reverse osmosis. The primary desalination process that POV high performance valves excel at is reverse osmosis. The most cost-effective method for desalination involves power generation alongside water desalination because producing desalinated water requires energy consumption.

Desalination plants employ multiple valve types which differ through their distinct characteristics and operational benefits and constraints.

The low to medium-pressure operations of desalination plants utilize butterfly valves because they provide a compact design with lightweight construction at an affordable price. The selection of materials for butterfly valves includes stainless steel and ductile iron and rubber or Teflon linings which protect against seawater corrosion.

Ball Valves: Ball valves are suitable for high-pressure applications and can handle a wide range of temperatures. They are available in various materials, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and exotic alloys, to accommodate different desalination process requirements.

Gate Valves function as on-off control devices for fluid flow in pipelines throughout desalination plants. The valve operates through vertical movement of a sliding gate or wedge to either open or close the valve.

Globe Valves function as precise flow control devices in desalination plants for throttling operations. The movable disc of these valves interacts with a stationary seat to provide exact control of fluid flow.

The selection of valves for desalination plants requires evaluation of operating pressure and temperature alongside flow rate and seawater corrosiveness. The valve material selection must be compatible with desalination process conditions to avoid corrosion and extend valve lifespan.