Making sure you have the most effective valves means you minimize the amount of risk that forms a large part of many industrial processes, for example fluid flow. It helps to know what you’re looking for in a product and how best to maintain it.
The control valve is one of the most ubiquitous, but also the most important, instruments in a factory environment. By regulating fluid flow in the connected pipe, the valve can achieve the desired operating parameters, thus guaranteeing a smooth operation. In so many industrial processes, valve identification, purchasing and maintenance is very important.
It’s important to understand the specific application and choose the right valve choice for that application. The control valve makes one of the biggest contributions to process plant efficiency. Should sizes be chosen wrongly, it can have a significant impact on reliability, safety and efficiency levels, and can cause a slowdown or closure that affects profitability. It’s also crucial to understand specific applications and pick the right valve solution to manage possibly hazardous instances such as cavitation, noise from gas and vibration.
Previous studies in the process industry show that a third of control loop issues are caused by poor performance and/or adjustments of the valves. This can be removed with the correct size, selection and control valve control. For help and advice with choosing the right Brass Ball Valve, visit https://www.orseal.com/products/ball-valves/
But how does one make the right choice when buying and installing new equipment?
The checklist for valve selection includes:
• Design
• Process stability
• Material compatibility
• Relevant approval
• Integration / communication with site infrastructure.
In reality, engineers must report to managers – with less technical knowledge and a greater focus on the bottom of line of profitability – who are concerned with purchase prices, operational costs and energy savings may be greater.
It’s important to look beyond the initial purchase price because the process is key and must therefore be prioritized. Users must investigate hidden costs that can affect the processes that are provided throughout their lifetime.
If the control valve is too large for a given task, it will operate closer to the seat and therefore experience more wear. Likewise, improper valve sizes can also experience cavitation and noise in flow, so it’s important to focus on the component size.
They can reduce sound emissions because large gallery areas reduce flow, speed and noise, providing a better overall work environment. The use of smart positioners, meanwhile, can help position accurate control valves.
The right choice guarantees efficiency and saves costs. A valve that performs well lasts longer, while a maintenance program that centres on reliability monitors daily performance for every sign of change.
There are safety benefits too with research showing that more than half of safety incidents take place throughout reactive maintenance.