A valve is a component in a piping system that is used to control the flow of the media through the system. This control is achieved by the manipulation of some type of obstructer within the valve. Actuated valves use mechanical devices called "actuators" to operate the valve using a power source such as compressed air or electricity. Most actuated valves are also available in a manually operated version, or as an actuated valve with a manual override.
All of the most common types of automated valves fall into one of three main categories. They are linear, rotary, and self-actuated. There are a variety of valve types within each of these categories each having its own benefits. This training course is focused on rotary and linear actuated valves.