How to Prolong the Operation Time of the Control Valve
Control valves are different from manual valves. Once installed, they must be maintained in order to function under normal conditions and prolong their service life. Let us discuss the different ways to lengthen the usage life of a flow control valve.
Must be operated at 80%
Right from the start, the control valve must be operated under the maximum opening. This is for the erosion that is caused by impact or air to happen on the valve case’s head. With the case destroyed and the flow rate increased, the valve opening must be reduced in a series of steps until the whole case is entirely utilised and the sealing face and the roots of the case are damaged.
By operating widespread, the gap for throttling will be big. In this case, the erosion is weak and to some degree, it prolongs operation time.
Narrow valve diameter
Narrowing the diameter of the flow control valve will increase the work opening. There are two ways to achieve this. First is to change the other valve with that of a smaller diameter. Second is to replace the valve seat with a smaller one. These mentioned ways can help prolong a control valve’s operation time.
Alter the direction of the flow
If the flow direction of the open-type is in line with the opening, the erosion will happen on the sealing face. With this, the sealing face of the valve seat and the root of the case are likely to be destroyed quickly. On the other hand, if the flow direction of the close-type is in line with the closing, the erosion will happen under the sealing face of the valve seat and after the throttle. This why protecting the sealing face and the case root is important as this will help in prolonging the service time of control valves.
Change materials
To prevent impact and cavitation, adopting the impact-proof and cavitation-resistant special material is a better way to create the throttling element. Materials like hard metal and stellite can be used. However, if a more erosion-resistant type of flow control valve is preferred, there are some materials that come with physical and mechanical properties such as ceramics, hastelloy, rubber, and more.
About MasterMac2000: Your Trusted Pneumatic & Process Automation Partner.
LEADING THE INDUSTRY: Established in 1989, MasterMac2000 has grown to become one of Australia's largest privately owned pneumatic and process automation companies. We stock top-quality brands like Univer, Mack, Tolomatic, Mac, Piab, American, and Rotoflux in Brisbane.
SERVING QLD & NORTHERN NSW: We proudly service Queensland and Northern New South Wales for all your pneumatic and process equipment needs. Our mission is to provide the best pre and post-sales support while actively expanding our client base.
SOURCING HARD-TO-FIND PARTS: Not only do we stock quality components, but we also excel at sourcing those elusive, hard-to-find parts. With our extensive database and global network of contacts, getting the parts you require is as easy as a call to our highly skilled, professional sales team.
DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS:
- Decades of expertise in pneumatics & process automation
- Carefully curated selection of world-class brands
- Exceptional sourcing capabilities for speciality parts
- Knowledgeable sales staff dedicated to finding solutions
- Unwavering commitment to customer service excellence
About The Author
Stuart Havill
Stuart Havill is the owner and manager of MasterMac2000, Queensland's largest privately owned pneumatic and process valve company.
With his early working career as a maintenance fitter for Boral in 1992, Stuart has spent his life in the field of pneumatics and process equipment. He gained extensive experience in plant design, maintenance, repairs, fabrication, and site management.
In 1996, he transitioned to a pneumatic sales technician role at MasterMac2000, where he excelled in key account management, providing cost-effective solutions, and managing a sales team of 9 employees.
Since 2002, Stuart has been the manager at MasterMac2000, overseeing the company's growth and establishing it as a leader in pneumatic automation and process valve engineering. His expertise spans customer training, CRM setup, industrial compressor sizing and installation, and turn-key project management.
Under Stuart's leadership, MasterMac2000 has been servicing the industry since 1988, with 5 full-time sales representatives covering northern rivers NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory, and PNG. The company prides itself on providing the best-priced solutions to all customers in the marketplace.
View Stuart’s LinkedIn profile to learn more about his expertise in pneumatics and process equipment.