As an indispensable part of fluid control system, valve is widely used in petroleum, chemical, electric power, water treatment and other fields. Proper use and maintenance of the valve not only ensures the normal operation of the system, but also extends the service life of the valve and reduces failures and safety hazards. The following are the things to pay attention to when using the valve:
1. Select the right valve type
Select the appropriate valve type according to the nature of the medium (such as liquid, gas, corrosive media, etc.), pressure, temperature and working environment. Common valve types include gate valves, globe valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, check valves, etc.
Ensure that the material of the valve is compatible with the medium to avoid valve damage due to corrosion or chemical reactions.
2. Check before installation
Before installation, check the appearance of the valve for damage, such as cracks, sand holes, etc.
Confirm whether the specifications, models and pressure levels of the valves meet the design requirements.
Clean the inside of the valve to ensure that there is no debris, welding slag and other residues, so as not to affect the sealing performance of the valve.
3. Install it correctly
When installing, ensure that the direction of the valve is correct, especially the valves with flow requirements such as check valves and globe valves.
The installation position of the valve should be easy to operate and maintain, and avoid installation in hard-to-reach places.
For large-caliber or heavy-duty valves, brackets or lifting equipment should be used to avoid valve stress due to its own weight, resulting in deformation or damage.
When installing the pipe, ensure that the connection of the pipe and the valve are aligned, and avoid forced installation, so as to avoid damage to the valve or pipe.
4. Operation precautions
When operating the valve, it should be opened or closed slowly to avoid water hammer effect or valve damage caused by rapid operation.
For manual valves, avoid using excessive force to operate the hand wheel or handle, so as not to damage the stem or seal.
For electric, pneumatic or hydraulic driven valves, the working status of the drive device should be checked regularly to ensure its normal operation.
Wear protective equipment when operating the valve at high temperature or pressure to avoid burns or other injuries.
5. Perform regular maintenance
Check the sealing performance of the valve regularly, and deal with the leak in time if found.
For valves that are not used for a long time, regular switching operations should be carried out to prevent the valve stem from sticking or the aging of the seals.
Regularly lubricate the slide valve stem and transmission components to ensure flexible valve operation.
Check whether the fasteners of the valves are loose, especially the high-pressure valves, to prevent leaks or accidents caused by loosening.
6. Prevent freezing and corrosion
In low temperature environments, the valve may not operate properly due to freezing of the medium. Insulation measures should be taken to prevent freezing of valves and pipes.
For corrosive media, the corrosion of the valve should be checked regularly, and the valve should be replaced or anti-corrosion measures should be taken if necessary.
7. Perform safe operations
When operating high pressure or high temperature valves, ensure that the system is in a safe state to avoid forced operation of the valve under pressure.
For toxic, flammable and explosive media, the valve should be operated in strict compliance with safety procedures, wear protective equipment, and ensure good ventilation.
When repairing or replacing the valve, the medium source should be cut off first, and the residual medium in the pipeline should be drained to ensure safe operation.
8. Record and monitor
Set up valve usage and maintenance records, record the valve operation times, maintenance, troubleshooting, and other information, facilitate subsequent management and maintenance.
For valves in key parts, it is recommended to install monitoring devices to monitor the working status of the valves in real time and detect and handle abnormal situations in a timely manner.
9. Emergency treatment
When the valve fails or leaks, emergency measures should be taken immediately, such as closing the upstream and downstream valves to prevent the expansion of the accident.
For valves that cannot be repaired immediately, timely replacement or temporary measures should be taken to ensure the safe operation of the system.
10. Training and operational specifications
The operator should receive professional training and be familiar with the working principle, operation method and precautions of the valve.
Develop and strictly implement valve operation specifications to avoid valve damage or accidents caused by misoperation.
Conclusion
As a key component of the fluid control system, the correct use and maintenance of the valve is crucial to the safe operation of the system. Through reasonable selection, correct installation, standardized operation and regular maintenance, the service life of the valve can be effectively extended, the occurrence of failure can be reduced, and the stability and safety of the system can be ensured.
