Industrial Maintenance Technician Practice Test 2026 - Free Maintenance Technician Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary use of a globe valve is to regulate fluid flow. Globe valves are designed with a spherical body and a movable disk-type element that can be adjusted to varying degrees to control the flow of liquid or gas through the valve. This design allows for precise flow regulation, making them suitable for applications where flow control is essential, such as in heating systems, water distribution, and various industrial processes.

Globe valves can effectively throttle flow, meaning they can be opened to a fraction of their full capacity, allowing operators to achieve the desired flow rate. Their ability to provide fine control over the rate of flow is what distinguishes them from other types of valves that are primarily used for isolation or on/off control.

In contrast, while globe valves can also isolate fluid flow, this is not their primary purpose. The primary function of other valves, such as gate valves, is to stop or start fluid flow without significant flow regulation. Additionally, while backflow prevention can be an aspect of some valve designs, globe valves are not specifically engineered for this function. Their construction and operating principles primarily focus on achieving control over fluid flow rather than preventing backflow.