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There are a multitude of stem sealing solutions utilized throughout severe service, flow control applications. This article will explore various stem sealing solutions and the reasons one might choose them. We will dive further into the intricacies of typical severe service applications, high-cycle severe service applications and what happens when a valve must become fast-acting.

The application of the Optimov® program to some of our customer plants revealed that some families of wedge gate valves require higher torques in dynamic flow conditions than historically assumed. Valves inspections revealed that these high torques are caused by poor manufacturing processes of these valves. The Disc Factor of these valves was corrected through statistical analysis. The issue was solved through increase of the torque switch settings and replacement of the actuators when needed.

How big is the market for power plant valves? How big is the market for gas transmission valves? These are the most important questions in setting up a marketing program – or are they?

The Materialprüfungsanstalt, MPA (Materials Testing Institute) of the University of Stuttgart initiated a research project in 2008 to investigate how stem sealing in valves could be enhanced by use of surface coating on the stem.

OPEC continues to produce unabated which will no doubt affect those countries with high production costs. With low oil prices around 50$ a barrel are end user extra requirements to international standards justified? Or is it costly gold plating?

With low oil prices around 50$ a barrel are end user extra requirements to international standards justified? Or is it costly gold plating?

Inefficient sealing of valve glands constitutes the largest contributor to fugitive emissions in a process plant, affecting all types of valves (control, block, ball, butterfly etc).

Many of the valvemakers in the Czech Republic seem to be doing very well for themselves, with reports of significant investments in machinery, the opening of offices and production units overseas as well as announcements of major orders being won. Valve World therefore decided to travel to the East of the country to ask several companies if they could explain the reasons behind this success.

The market for valves for use in NOx control is expanding at a rapid rate. The reagents used to reduce NOx are urea, ammonia, or hydrogen peroxide. Some new technologies being discussed in McIlvaine webinars include a combination of technologies.

The petroleum and chemical industries have been looking for meaningful standards that will enable the qualification of valves and packings that meet the increasingly stringent fugitive emission regulations, which have increased since the 1990s. The focus has been on the main source of the emissions—valve stem packing...