Selection And Maintenance Points of High-pressure Ball Valves in The Petrochemical Field

Key Points for Selecting High-Pressure Ball Valves
  Medium Characteristics

Corrosiveness: There are many types of petrochemical media with large differences in corrosiveness. For highly corrosive media such as acidic gases and oil and gas containing hydrogen sulfide, materials with strong corrosion resistance should be preferred, such as 316Ti stainless steel. This material has good resistance to pitting corrosion and crevice corrosion and can remain stable in harsh chemical environments.

Temperature: The temperature range of the medium is an important basis for selection. Ball valves with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) seals are suitable for media with a wide temperature range, but their physical characteristics (such as high expansion coefficient and poor thermal conductivity) limit their application under extreme high temperature conditions. For high-temperature media such as high-temperature steam or high-temperature oil products, ball valves with metal hard seals should be selected.

Appearance inspection: Regularly inspect the appearance of the ball valve to see if there are corroded, worn, deformed or loose parts. Especially for key parts such as the valve body, valve stem and seals, problems should be dealt with in time once discovered.

Sealing performance inspection: Regularly test the sealing performance of the ball valve to check for leakage. Methods such as pressure testing and air tightness detection can be used to ensure reliable sealing of the valve during operation.

Lubrication inspection: Check whether the lubrication system of the ball valve is normal and whether there is sufficient lubricating grease. Insufficient lubrication may lead to sticking of the valve stem, difficult operation and even damage to the valve.