A diverter valve does one job: send a stream of material down one path or another. How it does that job, though, varies enormously, and the four common designs — plate, plug, ball and flap — are suited to quite different duties. Choosing the wrong one is a common and expensive mistake in bulk solids handling.

In a pneumatic conveying line or a gravity chute, a diverter switches the flow between two destinations. Some designs seal only the branch that is not in use; others seal both. Some tolerate abrasive material well; others do not. The physical arrangement — gravity flow or pressure conveying — usually narrows the choice considerably.

A plate diverter uses a flat blade that swings across the flow to close one leg. It is a compact, economical design and is well suited to gravity flow switching, where the material simply falls and the plate only has to divert it. It is not intended for pressure conveying, and abrasive service will wear the plate edge over time.

The KFB plate diverter valve is a compact gravity flow switch in stainless construction. See the plate diverter category page for variants.

A plug diverter rotates a cylindrical or conical plug to redirect flow. The plug presents a smooth, self-supporting face to the material and does not rely on a thin blade, which makes it noticeably more tolerant of abrasive product than a plate design. The trade-off is size and cost.

The KFZ plug diverter valve is specified for low wear in abrasive service. See the plug diverter category.

A ball diverter uses a drilled or ported ball that rotates to align the through-passage with the selected outlet. Because the passage can be made full bore and self-cleaning, the ball design is popular where material must not hang up and where the line must be pigged or cleaned. It seals well and handles both gravity and light pressure duty.

The KFQ ball diverter valve is a full-bore, self-cleaning design. See the ball diverter category.

A flap diverter swings a pivoting flap to direct flow. It is the classic three-way diverter for pneumatic conveying lines, where the flap is held against one outlet by the conveying pressure itself — the line pressure does the sealing work. Flap diverters are commonly made in aluminium for lighter duty and in stainless where the product demands it.

The VAB flap diverter valve is a three-way pneumatic conveying line switch with an aluminium body — see the VAB product article for the application detail. The flap diverter category lists the range.

A two-way diverter simply switches a single inlet between two outlets without the blending capability of a true three-way design. It is widely used in conveying line switching where the destinations are fixed. See the WZK two-way diverter valve.

Body and trim material is a separate decision from the mechanism. In our range, the KFB, KFZ and KFQ diverter valves are supplied in stainless steel, while the VAB flap diverter is an aluminium body. Food and pharmaceutical duties should be specified in stainless with an appropriate internal finish.

See the diverter valve category for the whole range, or the full product list to compare with pinch and iris designs. Tell us the material and the conveying arrangement and we will recommend a type.