Oliver Twinsafe Valves has looked into developing a more long-term solution that would continue to operate to a high standard over the lifetime of the plant, due to customer feedback stating that valves used in polymer plants had to be replaced every three months because they were locking up. As a result, Oliver Twinsafe Valves has released the semi and solid severe service valve (S4V), a bespoke valve, which caters for the abrasive nature of the polymerisation process, which sees substances repeatedly solidifying and liquefying inside the valve. The valve uses the hybrid trunnion ball valve design and incorporates tungsten carbide coated ball and seat sets to help withstand the abrasion and high pressure, as well as cavity fillers to stop grit getting behind the ball and into the seat.
