The Original Dome Valve
With over 100,000 installations worldwide, the Clyde Dome Valve delivers reliable isolation in the most demanding bulk solids handling and pneumatic conveying applications.
View Process VideosThe Industry Benchmark for Pneumatic Conveying Isolation
With over 100,000 installations worldwide, the Clyde Dome Valve delivers reliable isolation in the most demanding bulk solids handling and pneumatic conveying applications.
Designed specifically for abrasive and difficult-to-work materials, the Dome Valve combines a full-bore, unobstructed flow path with a unique inflatable sealing mechanism, providing pressure-tight isolation, exceptional wear resistance, and extremely long service life.
Often imitated but never duplicated, the Clyde Dome Valve remains the proven industry standard for heavy-duty pneumatic bulk solids cut-off valves.
How the Dome Valve Works
The Clyde Dome Valve uses a rotating dome and inflatable seal to provide reliable isolation in pneumatic conveying systems handling abrasive bulk materials.
- 1. Valve Open – Unrestricted Flow: When the valve is open, the dome rotates away from the seal, creating a full-bore unobstructed opening that allows material to pass freely.
- 2. Seal Deflated During Operation: During valve movement, the inflatable seal remains deflated and protected from material flow, preventing premature wear.
- 3. Dome Rotates to Close: The pneumatic actuator rotates the dome into the closed position, allowing the valve to cut through material columns if required.
- 4. Seal Inflates for Isolation: Once closed, the inflatable seal expands against the dome surface to form a pressure-tight seal.
This design ensures reliable sealing, minimal wear, and a long service life, even in demanding industrial applications.
Key Advantages of the Clyde Dome Valve
- Full Bore Unobstructed Flow: The Dome Valve provides a completely unobstructed flow path, eliminating internal restrictions that can lead to material buildup or blockages. This ensures smooth discharge of bulk materials and reliable operation in pneumatic conveying systems.
- Inflatable Pressure Seal: The unique inflatable seal technology provides a pressure-tight seal when the valve closes and retracts during operation, protecting the seal from abrasion and significantly extending its life.
- Exceptional Reliability: Designed with simple, robust mechanical components, the Dome Valve delivers dependable, long-term performance with over 3,000,000 cycles between major maintenance.
- Handles Abrasive and Difficult Materials: The Dome Valve is engineered to handle abrasive powders, cohesive materials and harsh operating conditions where conventional valves struggle to perform.
- Ability to Close Against Material: The valve can cut through both static and moving columns of bulk material, ensuring reliable isolation even during system operation.
Dome Valve vs Conventional Isolation Valves
Enquire| Feature | Clyde Dome Valve | Pinch Valve | Butterfly Valve | Slide Gate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flow Path | Full bore unobstructed flow | Restricted when sleeve deforms | Disc obstructs flow | Restricted flow |
| Seal Protection | Seal protected during operation | Sleeve exposed to material | Seal exposed | Seal exposed |
| Abrasive Material Handling | Excellent | Moderate | Poor | Moderate |
| Ability to Cut Through Material | Yes | No | No | Limited |
| Leakage Performance | Zero leakage inflatable seal | Leakage possible as sleeve wears | Leakage common | Leakage common |
| Reliability in Dense Phase Systems | Excellent | Moderate | Poor | Moderate |
| Maintenance Requirement | Very low | Sleeve replacement required | Moderate | Moderate |
| Suitable for Pneumatic Conveying | Ideal | Limited | Not recommended | Limited |
Dome Valve Options & Specifications
Enquire- Valve Sizes: DN50 – DN500
- Standard Pressure Rating: 7 barg
- Maximum Pressure: Up to 30 barg
- Temperature Range: -20°C to 480°C
- Seal Type: Inflatable
- Actuation: Pneumatic vane or cylinder
- Vane Actuator (Kinetrol): Compact and reliable actuation used for fine powders and materials below approximately 2 mm particle size.
- Pneumatic Cylinder Actuator: Provides higher torque and is typically used for coarser materials or applications requiring higher cutting force.
Dome Materials and Surface Coatings
The dome is typically manufactured from SG iron, with optional coatings available depending on the application.
Common coating options include:
- Chrome coating for sticky or abrasive materials
- ENP or Tungsten Carbide for highly abrasive products
- Epoxy coatings for corrosive environments
These coatings can also be applied to internal valve surfaces and adapters to extend service life.
Options & Configurations
High Temperature Options
Water-cooled designs enable the Dome Valve to operate in extreme-temperature environments.
- Standard Valve: -20°C to 135°C
- High Temperature: -20°C to 220°C
- Water-Cooled PH1: -20°C to 310°C
- Water-Cooled PH2: -20°C to 360°C
- Water-Cooled PH3: -20°C to 480°C
These options make the Dome Valve suitable for kilns, smelters, calciners and high-temperature process environments.
Valve Configurations
The Dome Valve can be supplied in multiple configurations to suit different installation layouts:
- Bulkhead Dome Valve
- Top Inlet Adapter
- Bottom Outlet Adapter
- Inline Dome Valve
Inline Dome Valves can also be paired to create Dome-type switching valves for pipeline diversion in pneumatic conveying systems.
Typical Applications
- Pneumatic conveying vessels
- Dense phase conveying systems
- Silo and hopper discharge isolation
- Process injection systems
- Bulk material transfer systems
- Dust collection equipment
Typical Materials Handled
- Cement
- Fly Ash
- Cement Kiln Dust (CKD)
- Lime
- Gypsum
- Alumina
- Iron Oxide Dust
- Catalyst Fines
- Mineral Powders
