Aerospace valves
Aerospace valves with technical advice from a specialist
Aerospace valves: the working principle in practice
Aerospace valves are built for applications where qualification, traceability and weight carry at least as much weight as the technical performance itself. Anyone looking into aerospace valves quickly runs into a choice that goes beyond picking a catalogue number. Once aerospace valves is correctly specified it disappears from the fault list, and that is exactly the intention. There is a clear difference between isolating and controlling, and many problems arise because an isolation valve is given a control duty it was never built for. In a pipeline the issues are long distances, varying conditions and limited access, which puts reliability above everything else. In chemicals the variety of media is greatest, and material selection is often reconsidered for each section of pipework. For aerospace valves this means that construction and operating conditions cannot be judged separately. A correct execution of aerospace valves accounts for real operating conditions and not only for design values. On aerospace valves we always check the full operating envelope, including start up and shutdown. A valve is selected on medium, pressure, temperature, tightness requirement and actuation, in that order. Industrial valves together form the control and isolation system of a plant, and their reliability largely determines plant availability. We find that questions about aerospace valves almost always come back to the same three points: medium, temperature and required tightness.
Material, seat and construction on aerospace valves
Full material traceability from melt to finished part is the norm rather than the exception in this sector. How aerospace valves behaves under varying load says more about the quality of the selection than behaviour under steady load. In practice we find that most failures around aerospace valves come not from the material but from a wrong assumption during selection. Batch sizes are small and documentation requirements are heavy, which changes the economics of the whole supply chain. Isolation valves separate sections so that work can be carried out safely, which makes the tightness requirement a safety requirement. The sector in which the valve runs additionally determines which standards, inspections and documentation have to be supplied. In petrochemicals high temperature, high pressure, sour gas and strict emission requirements come together in the same plant. Test media are often cryogenic or highly pure gases, which combines low temperature with cleanliness requirements. We also advise when the conclusion is that a simpler or cheaper type is sufficient, because a satisfied customer comes back. We supply both individual valves and complete packages for a project scope, including actuation and documentation. That principle explains why aerospace valves behaves differently from a standard execution under heavier duty. What weighs heaviest on aerospace valves in practice is the combination of temperature and differential pressure, not either one alone.
Applications of aerospace valves in industry
Applications range from test rigs and propellant handling to ground support equipment and gas supply systems. In pipelines and tank storage the drivers are isolation, safety and demonstrable tightness over long periods. In process industry the emphasis is on reproducibility, which translates into tight selection and good documentation. Demand for aerospace valves reaches us mainly from projects where the standard range falls short. For aerospace valves the sector determines which documentation and tests belong with the delivery. On project supply we record per position which execution of aerospace valves was delivered, including materials and tests. During turnarounds aerospace valves is regularly on the critical path, and then predictability matters more than the lowest price. Our customers work in chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, offshore and in hydrogen and ammonia projects. Our market is project driven and international, and we deliver worldwide to installers, EPC contractors and end users. Alongside QUADAX and PRUSS we represent Pibiviesse, Schroeder, Striko, Malbranque, Daume, FluoroSeal and Guichon, so we can select the right brand for each project. On replacement we always check the existing installation dimensions for aerospace valves, so the pipework can stay untouched. We supply aerospace valves both for new build and for replacement within existing installations.
Choosing the right aerospace valves
For aerospace valves total cost of ownership weighs more than purchase price, certainly when replacement has to happen during a shutdown. A valve that is technically adequate but lacks the required certification simply cannot be bought by a chemical plant buyer. Standardisation across a plant saves on spare parts and on the knowledge the maintenance team has to keep current. We start a sector project with the question of which standards are mandatory, because that defines the room available in the rest of the selection. On aerospace valves we also state what an execution cannot do, because that prevents more problems than a list of advantages. We never recommend a heavier execution of aerospace valves than needed, because over specification only raises price and lead time. The cleaning and flushing procedure counts too on aerospace valves, because it can be more aggressive than the process itself. For aerospace valves we ask as standard for DN, pressure class, medium, temperature and required actuation. Dutch Valve Vision deliberately works in the specials segment, because that is where technical knowledge makes the difference. For recurring supply we record the configuration, so follow up orders run without repeated engineering. If you have an existing tag plate or serial number, send it along, because that lets us work directly from the original configuration. On aerospace valves we check that the actuator is sized on torque at maximum differential pressure and not on an average value.
Dutch Valve Vision as your supplier of aerospace valves
Even when the specification for aerospace valves is not yet finalised, you can bring the question to us. We work as a technical supplier rather than a catalogue reseller, which means we carry out the selection ourselves on the basis of medium, pressure, temperature and code requirements. For aerospace valves you can come to Dutch Valve Vision for the selection, the delivery and the support afterwards. We handle an enquiry for aerospace valves on its technical merits rather than as a price request that only produces a number. Dutch Valve Vision stays available after delivery of aerospace valves for technical questions and for parts. We keep spare parts and overhaul kits mapped per project, so that a breakdown does not start with a search from scratch. Documentation such as material certificates, test reports and declarations is supplied as standard, matched to what the project requires. We keep the configuration data for aerospace valves on file, which saves a great deal of searching if a fault occurs later. A tag plate with project data belongs with aerospace valves as standard where the project requires it. We work on aerospace valves under a KIWA ISO 9001 certified quality system, which safeguards traceability. On aerospace valves we come back with a proposal that explains why we recommend a particular execution. Call +31 (0)70-2210560 or send your specification to sales@dutchvalvevision.com and we will pick it up.
Frequently asked questions about aerospace valves
What exactly does aerospace valves mean?
Industrial valves together form the control and isolation system of a plant, and their reliability largely determines plant availability. Isolation valves separate sections so that work can be carried out safely, which makes the tightness requirement a safety requirement. Aerospace valves are built for applications where qualification, traceability and weight carry at least as much weight as the technical performance itself. In petrochemicals high temperature, high pressure, sour gas and strict emission requirements come together in the same plant. This is one of the points on aerospace valves where suppliers differ most clearly from one another. On aerospace valves we prefer a well founded answer to a fast one that turns out to be wrong later. The subject of aerospace valves touches both the construction of the valve and the way the plant is operated. What defines us is that we would rather spend an extra half hour on the specification than ship the wrong valve that comes back two months later.
Which executions of aerospace valves are available?
We supply both individual valves and complete packages for a project scope, including actuation and documentation. We also advise when the conclusion is that a simpler or cheaper type is sufficient, because a satisfied customer comes back. In a pipeline the issues are long distances, varying conditions and limited access, which puts reliability above everything else. In chemicals the variety of media is greatest, and material selection is often reconsidered for each section of pipework. That makes aerospace valves a subject where discussion up front pays for itself in operation. We always explain why we arrive at a particular recommendation on aerospace valves, so you can follow the reasoning yourself. We regularly see that a small change in the execution of aerospace valves makes a large difference to maintenance frequency. Dutch Valve Vision supplies special valves for special applications from its base in Monster, the Netherlands, with QUADAX and PRUSS as the core brands in the programme.
Which materials are used for aerospace valves?
Test media are often cryogenic or highly pure gases, which combines low temperature with cleanliness requirements. Dutch Valve Vision deliberately works in the specials segment, because that is where technical knowledge makes the difference. For recurring supply we record the configuration, so follow up orders run without repeated engineering. The sector in which the valve runs additionally determines which standards, inspections and documentation have to be supplied. In most projects aerospace valves turns out to be less standard than it first appears. The answer on aerospace valves depends strongly on operating conditions, which is why we always ask for those first. The balance between required tightness and available operating force is a recurring tension on aerospace valves. We work as a technical supplier rather than a catalogue reseller, which means we carry out the selection ourselves on the basis of medium, pressure, temperature and code requirements.
What should I watch technically on aerospace valves?
What should I watch technically on aerospace valves?
Which applications call for aerospace valves?
In process industry the emphasis is on reproducibility, which translates into tight selection and good documentation. Our customers work in chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, offshore and in hydrogen and ammonia projects. In pipelines and tank storage the drivers are isolation, safety and demonstrable tightness over long periods. Applications range from test rigs and propellant handling to ground support equipment and gas supply systems. Our experience with aerospace valves comes from projects in chemicals, power generation, technical gases and offshore. The answer to this question on aerospace valves changes as soon as the medium or the temperature changes. We see demand for aerospace valves rising in hydrogen and ammonia projects, where tightness requirements are high. Dutch Valve Vision operates under a KIWA ISO 9001 certified quality system, which in the RFQ stage of chemical and offshore projects is usually a hard requirement.
What determines the price and lead time of aerospace valves?
For an accurate quotation we need the nominal diameter, the pressure class, the medium, the operating temperature and the required actuation. Please also state the connection standard, the required leakage class and any project requirements such as NACE, PED or ATEX. Lead times depend on the execution, because a standard size from a running series behaves very differently from a valve in an exotic alloy with NACE certification. For shutdowns and turnarounds we look at accelerated routes, and in those cases we are honest up front about what is and is not achievable. If you are unsure about this on aerospace valves, we are glad to put the question alongside the actual process data. For aerospace valves a good specification up front is cheaper than a correction afterwards. Our specialists are happy to discuss aerospace valves on the basis of your P&ID, your datasheet or simply a photograph of the situation. Call +31 (0)70-2210560 or send your specification to sales@dutchvalvevision.com and we will pick it up.
What about maintenance and spare parts on aerospace valves?
We quote a realistic lead time rather than an optimistic one, because a missed delivery date costs more than an extra week in the planning. On repeat orders we record the configuration, so a follow up delivery is identical to the first and installation holds no surprises. We keep spare parts and overhaul kits mapped per project, so that a breakdown does not start with a search from scratch. Documentation such as material certificates, test reports and declarations is supplied as standard, matched to what the project requires. We see this come back regularly in enquiries about aerospace valves, and the answer is rarely a single sentence. For aerospace valves a good specification up front is cheaper than a correction afterwards. Documentation on aerospace valves has to be the kind a buyer or inspector accepts without discussion. Our customers work in chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, offshore and in hydrogen and ammonia projects.
How do I request a quotation for aerospace valves?
If you have an existing tag plate or serial number, send it along, because that lets us work directly from the original configuration. We come back with a proposal that explains why we recommend a particular execution, including the alternatives we considered. A P&ID, a datasheet or even a photograph of the existing installation often helps us faster than a long description. Documentation such as material certificates, test reports and declarations is supplied as standard, matched to what the project requires. This is one of the points on aerospace valves where suppliers differ most clearly from one another. In most projects aerospace valves turns out to be less standard than it first appears. We supply aerospace valves as a loose product or as a fully assembled unit with actuator and accessories. You can reach us on +31 (0)70-2210560 and at sales@dutchvalvevision.com, and our office hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00.