What is the difference between lift check valve and swing check valve? 

there are many types of check valves. Among them, the swing check valve and lift type check valve are more commonly used. The main difference between swing check valve and lift check valve is their different structure forms. Also, that two types of check valve have some difference in applicable mediums, performance, applicable working condition,etc. When choosing a check valve, it is hard to decide which type of check valve is better, it mainly depends on the installation condition and real requirements to choose which type of check should be used. Today, we are going to talk about the difference between swing check valve and lift type check valve. 

1. What is the difference between lift check valve and swing check valve? 

There are many types of check valves according to their different structure forms. The common ones are lift type check valve, swing check valve, wafer butterfly check valve, line type check valve,etc. Among them, lift type check valve and swing check valve are most used ones. What is the difference between lift type check valve and swing check valve? 

1.1. Difference of swing check valve and lift check valve in structure form: 

The lift type check valve is similar in structure to the globe valve, except that there is no valve stem in the lift check valve that drives the valve disc to open and close. Except that in the lift check valve, the valve disc can rise up and fall down freely, the rest of the lift check valve is same like the globe valve; the structure of the swing check valve is a internal rocker swing structure. All the opening and closing parts of the swing check valve are installed inside the valve body, and do not penetrate the valve body. The connection between the rocker and the valve disc adopts a spherical connection structure, so that the valve disc can a certain degree of freedom within 360°range, and has an appropriate micro position compensation. 

1.2. Difference of swing check valve and lift check valve in application. 

The lift type check valve can only be installed on the horizontal pipelines; the swing check valve can be installed on the horizontal pipelines or the vertical pipeline, but when then swing check valve is installed in vertical pipelines, the fluid flow direction in the pipes must be from the bottom to the top. 

1.3. Difference of swing check valve and lift check valve in performance. 

The flow channel of the lift check valve is narrow, so the pressure drop through the lift type check valve is larger than that of the swing check valve, and the fluid resistance of the lift check valve is larger than that of the swing check valve, and the sealing performance of the lift check valve is better. But there is less limit for the flow quantity in swing check valve. 

1.4. Difference of swing check valve and lift check valve in classification. 

Lift check valve can be divided into vertical lift check valve and horizontal lift check valve, according to the installation method; swing check valve can be divided into single plate swing check valve(or single disc swing valve), double plate swing check valve( double disc swing check valve), multi plate swing check valve( multi disc swing check valve), according to their diameter. 

1.5. Difference of swing check valve and lift check valve in applicable medium. 

The swing check valve is suitable for various mediums, such as water, steam, oils, nitric acid, acetic acid, strong oxidizing mediums, and urea,etc. It is not suitable for mediums containing solid particles and high viscosity; lift check valve is suitable for less quantity of mediums. 

2. Swing check valve VS Lift check valve, which one is better? 

The structures of the check valves are not stable, it is difficult to decide which one is better, different type of check valve is used according to different installation condition and different real working requirements. 

For example, for check valve DN＜50mm, the pressure is high and medium, the lift type check valve should be used. 

For check valve, 600mm＞DN＞50mm, the pressure is high and medium, the swing check valve should be used. 

For more articles about check valves, kindly visit: 

1. What are the 5 types of check valves?
2. How to inspect a check valve?
3. What is a lift check valve(lift disc check valve)?
4. What is wafer type check valve(also called butterfly type check valve)?
5. What is ball type check valve?
6. What is the difference between gate valve and check valve?
7. How does a check valve work on sump pump?
8. Where to install check valve on water pump?
9. How to repair a failed check valve?
10. where should a check valve be installed in piping systems？