Proactively Identify and Address Valve Issues with Flowserve RedRaven

RedRaven advanced IoT condition monitoring assists plants in monitoring valve performance and proactively identifying and addressing problems before they become failures. 

Used in conjunction with existing digital positioners or additional sensors, RedRaven notifies you when a valve deviates from normal operating conditions. With real-time performance data and analytics, you can immediately prevent valve problems from escalating into catastrophic failures.

Flowserve valve conditioning monitoring programs make it simple to avoid valve failures, increase uptime, reduce maintenance costs, and improve safety across all of your locations. 

Unlike other IoT offerings, RedRaven offers a comprehensive approach. RedRaven is a complete solution that includes sensors, software, communication technology, analytics, and expertise. It is a complete solution that will assist you throughout your IoT journey.

Instrument Specialties

407-324-7800

https://isisales.com

Control Valve Cavitation Solutions

Cavitation is the formation of vapor spaces (bubbles) in the control valve cavity resulting from a rapid change in pressure. When the bubbles move downstream and are exposed to a larger cross-sectional area, velocity decreases and pressure increases, the surrounding higher pressure causes the lower pressure bubble to implode, which causes shockwaves. These shockwaves can cause metal fatigue and cause excessive wear on the internals of the valve. As the bubbles collapse, they make a discernible sound with accompanying vibration, and the damage to a valve can happen quickly (weeks or months).

Cavitation is very destructive and may wear out the trim and body parts of the valve in a short time. Using hard internal materials provides a slight improvement but costs more.

Flowserve Valtek Cavitation Solution Control Valves prevent cavitation damage and minimize hydrodynamic noise even under the most severe liquid applications. Their unique, patented designs eliminate cavitation damage and provide straightforward maintenance and a long life even with demanding applications. 

For more information about Flowserve Valtek Control Valves in Florida, contact Instrument Specialties by calling +1 407.324.7800  or visiting https://isisales.com.

The Flowserve Valtek Compressor Anti-Surge Valve

The Flowserve Valtek Compressor Anti-Surge Valve is a groundbreaking approach to anti-surge control by combining accurate control with exceptional responsiveness in a simple, reliable package. It is designed to address common challenges seen in compressor applications, where the surge of compressors can cause equipment failure and downtime. 

By providing rapid response, driving the valve open when required, and providing steady-state positioning when recycling, the Valtek Compressor Anti-Surge Valve solution protects the compressor from catastrophic surge damage. The Valtek Compressor Anti-Surge Valve also provides the benefits of fast and simple set-up as well as easy maintenance. In addition, to existing installations, the Logix 3800JF positioner is easily retrofitted.

For more infomration about Flowserve Valtek products in Florida, contact Instrument Specialties. Call them at 407-324-7800 or visit their website at https://isisales.com.

The Flowserve Valtek FlowTop GS General Service Control Valve

The Valtek FlowTop GS control valve (types V746 and V748) improves the reliability and uptime of production processes while minimizing operating and maintenance costs. Designed for general service applications, the FlowTop GS globe valve is a competitively priced, fully integrated valve-actuator-instrumentation package for continuous process flow loop control throughout the plant.

For more information, and to download a PDF cutsheet, visit this Instrument Specialties webpage.

Video of Valtek Packing Subassembly

The Mark One, from the Flowserve brand Valtek, is a globe valve intended for flow control of liquids or gases across a wide range of applications. The valve design provides high positioning accuracy, repeatability and tight shutoff. A wealth of special design and construction features make the Mark One a serious contender for almost any fluid control operation.

Share your control valve and valve automation requirements and challenges with an application specialist, combining your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop an effective solution.

Eccentric Rotary Plug Control Valve

The MaxFlo 4 eccentric rotary plug control valve
Image courtesy of Flowserve Valtek

There is a seemingly limitless array of industrial control valves, each targeted for a range of fluid applications and fortified with materials and design features specifically suited for meeting the challenges of that application range.

Flowserve, under their Valtek brand, developed a control valve that combines a number of useful design features. The MaxFlo 4 is an eccentric rotary plug valve intended for fluid control operations. The valve has some attractive design features.

• There is no shaft extending through the flow path, leaving flow unobstructed when the valve is fully open (see the illustration in the document included below).
• Valve trim provides tight bi-directional shutoff.
• Metal or soft seat construction is available to accommodate a wide range of applications.
• A variant provides flange to flange dimensions that allow the MaxFlo 4 to drop in as a replacement for standard size globe valves.
• High Cv rating may enable use of a smaller valve, when compared to other designs.
• Precise position control is delivered by the shaft form and plug mounting.
• Double offset eccentric plug eliminates sliding of plug across sealing surfaces, reducing wear and required seal maintenance.

More detailed information is provided in the document provided below. There is a revealing cutaway illustration showing the mounting and movement path of the plug. Share your industrial process control valve requirements and challenges with an application specialist to get the best match of control valve to application.

Eccentric Rotary Plug Industrial Control Valve from Instrument Specialties, Inc.

Control Valve Flow Characteristics

Industrial Control Valve
Courtesy Flowserve - Valtek

Flow characteristics, the relationship between flow coefficient and valve stroke, has been a subject of considerable debate. Many valve types, such as butterfly, eccentric disk and ball valves, have an inherent characteristic which cannot be changed (except with characterizable positioner cams). Flow characteristics of globe valves can be determined by the shape of the plug head.

The three most common types of flow characteristics are quick opening, equal percentage and linear. The adjacent figure shows the ideal characteristic curve for each. These characteristics can be approximated by contouring the plug. However, inasmuch as there are body effects and other uncontrollable factors, plus the need for maximizing the flow capacity for a particular valve, the real curves often deviate considerably from these ideals. When a constant pressure drop is maintained across the valve, the characteristic of the valve alone controls the flow; this characteristic is referred to as the “inherent flow characteristic.” “Installed characteristics” include both the valve and pipeline effects. The difference can best be understood by examining an entire system.

Control valve flow properties
Courtesy Flowserve - Valtek

Equal Percentage

Equal percentage is the characteristic most commonly used in process control. The change in flow per unit of valve stroke is directly proportional to the flow occurring just before the change is made. While the flow characteristic of the valve itself may be equal percentage, most control loops will produce an installed characteristic approaching linear when the overall system pressure drop is large relative to that across the valve.

Linear

An inherently linear characteristic produces equal changes in flow per unit of valve stroke regardless of plug position. Linear plugs are used on those systems where the valve pressure drop is a major portion of the total system pressure drop.

Quick Open

Quick open plugs are used for on-off applications designed to produce maximum flow quickly.

This information provided courtesy of Flowserve Valtek. Share your control valve requirements and challenges with a valve specialist, combining your own process knowledge and experience with their product application expertise to develop effective solutions.

High Performance Butterfly Valves

Valdisk High Performance Double Offset Butterfly Valve
Courtesy Flowserve - Valtek

Industrial process control applications can present stringent and challenging performance requirements for the physical equipment and components that comprise the process chain. The valves employed in fluid based operations need to be resistant to the impact of extreme fluid conditions, requiring careful design and selection consideration to assure proper performance and safety levels are maintained in a predictable way.

Industrial valves intended for extreme applications are generally referred to as severe service or high performance valves. While there are plenty of published and accepted standards for industrial valves, one does not exist to precisely define what constitutes a severe service valve.

So, how do you know when to focus valve selection activities on severe service or high performance valves, as opposed to those rated for general purpose? There are a number of basic criteria that might point you in that direction:

• Extreme media or environmental temperature or pressure
• High pressure drop operation that may cause cavitation
• Rapid or extreme changes to inlet pressure
• Certain types or amounts of solids contained in the fluid
• Corrosive media

Certainly, any of these criteria might be found in an application serviceable by a general purpose valve, but their presence should be an indicator that a closer assessment of the fluid conditions and commensurate valve requirements is in order. The key element for a process stakeholder is to recognize when conditions are contemplated that can exceed the capabilities of a general purpose valve, leading to premature failure in control performance or catastrophic failure that produces an unsafe condition. Once the possibility of an extreme or challenging condition is identified, a careful analysis of the range of operating conditions will reveal the valve performance requirements.

There are numerous manufacturers of severe service or high performance valves, each with specialized product offerings focusing on a particular performance niche. Flowserve, under their Valtek brand, manufactures the Valdisk high performance butterfly valves ranging from NPS 2-52 and ASME class 150, 300, 600, 900, 1500 pressure ranges. The valve design is ideal for manual or automated actuation, installed with a manual hand gear, electric actuator, or a pneumatic actuator. Seats are available as soft or metal on this double offset butterfly valve that provides tight closure for bi-directional flow. Construction materials include carbon steel and stainless steel. A range of options and variants are available to customize the valve build to suit a replacement or new installation.

There is more information available about the Valtek high performance offering. You can always get more information and discuss your special requirements with a valve specialist. They have application experience and access to technical resources that can help with selecting the right valve components to meet your severe service and high performance applications.

The Valtek Control Valve: Understanding the Components

Flowserve (Valtek) control valves

Valtek control valves are also known for handling the most severe services: cryogenic, superheated steam, volatile and corrosive fluids, erosion, high pressure drops, vibration, cavitation, flashing, and high noise levels.

Valtek valves are equipped with spring cylinder or spring diaphragm actuators that provide the thrust and speed necessary to manage any service. Valtek four-way analog and digital positioners provide accuracy and response to handle the most exacting applications.

This video gives the viewer an understanding of the major components.

For more information, contact:
Instrument Specialties Inc.
3885 St. Johns Parkway
Sanford, FL 32771
phone 407.324.7800
fax 407.324.1104
e-mail: offices@isisales.com

Design and Construction of the Globe Control Valve (Valtek Mark One)

Globe control valve

A globe control valve is a specific type of valve used for regulating flow in a pipe. The design includes a movable plug, connected to a stem, which can be moved linearly to close or open the valve. Globe control valves are referred to as “linear” valves because of this movement, whereas ball valves and butterfly valves are referred to as “quarter-turn” valves. Generally, globe control valves provide better overall flow control than quarter-turn valves due to the design of their flow path.

The Valtek Mark One globe control valve is know for superior performance in liquid and gaseous services, while also permitting easy, fast and inexpensive maintenance to its major components.

The video below provides an excellent look inside a globe control valve (in this case the Flowserve Valtek Mark One).

On the Bench. A Look Inside the Valtek Mark One Globe Control Valve

Glove Control Valve

The video below provides the viewer with a look inside the Valtek Mark One control valve and identifies its major components.

The Valtek® Mark One globe control valve is designed for liquid and gaseous services, and for permitting easy, fast and inexpensive maintenance.

The spring-cylinder actuated Mark One valve provides stiffness and maintains high positioning accuracy, repeatability, controlled high speed, and faithful response. The Mark One valve handles up to 150 psig supply air and has the thrust to shut off against much higher fluid pressures.

The Mark One valve is designed so the spring, supply air pressure and fluid pressure itself combine to produce exceptionally tight shutoff. A self-aligning seat ring further enhances the shutoff capability of the valve.