A valve is a device or natural object that regulates directs or controls the flow of a fluid gases liquids fluidized solids or slurries by opening closing or partially obstructing various passageways valves are technically fittings but are usually discussed as a separate category in an open valve fluid flows in a direction from higher pressure to lower pressure.
Water valve flow direction.
Check valves tend to be small simple and inexpensive and are often used for backflow prevention in pumps safety applications and such.
A check valve is a specialty valve used to keep water flowing in one direction only and prevent flow in the opposite direction.
Most types are not operational and therefore do not have control handles.
The globe valve is an excellent valve to use for on off service but is highly suited for frequent cycling and control of fluids anywhere in amount or volume between the open and closed positions.
Check valves also called non return or one way valves are designed to allow flow in only one direction and to automatically prevent or check back flow if the fluid in the line reverses direction.
If the valve is put in backward the flow will force the gasket away from the top of the valve.
A back flow preventer of the type often found on outdoor faucets hose bibbs and on lawn sprinkler systems is one example of a check valve.
If there s no existing valves and no clearance issue then the most common convention is to have the handle point in the direction of flow.
The flow pattern through a globe valve involves changes in direction resulting in greater resistance to flow causing high pressure drop.