Process industry valves
Process industry valves from selection to delivery
The working principle of process industry valves
Process industry valves sit in the production lines themselves, where they isolate, divide and protect the process rather than simply closing a pipe. With process industry valves the difference between a good and a mediocre solution often sits in details that do not show on a drawing. It pays to understand the working principle behind process industry valves first, because the limits follow from that principle. Industrial valves together form the control and isolation system of a plant, and their reliability largely determines plant availability. In chemicals the variety of media is greatest, and material selection is often reconsidered for each section of pipework. 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. What weighs heaviest on process industry valves in practice is the combination of temperature and differential pressure, not either one alone. On process industry valves we always check the full operating envelope, including start up and shutdown. In practice we find that most failures around process industry valves come not from the material but from a wrong assumption during selection. 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. We find that questions about process industry valves almost always come back to the same three points: medium, temperature and required tightness.
What to watch technically on process industry valves
Reproducibility is the core requirement, because a plant that behaves differently each batch cannot be controlled. That principle explains why process industry valves behaves differently from a standard execution under heavier duty. We regularly see that a small change in the execution of process industry valves makes a large difference to maintenance frequency. Automation means the reliability of the actuator counts as heavily as the reliability of the valve body. In petrochemicals high temperature, high pressure, sour gas and strict emission requirements come together in the same plant. A valve is selected on medium, pressure, temperature, tightness requirement and actuation, in that order. In a pipeline the issues are long distances, varying conditions and limited access, which puts reliability above everything else. Where several products run through the same line, material selection has to be based on the most aggressive of them. For recurring supply we record the configuration, so follow up orders run without repeated engineering. We supply both individual valves and complete packages for a project scope, including actuation and documentation. A correct execution of process industry valves accounts for real operating conditions and not only for design values. How process industry valves behaves under varying load says more about the quality of the selection than behaviour under steady load.
Process industry valves in chemicals, power and process industry
They are used in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food production and in any plant running batch or campaign production. 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. Our customers use process industry valves in positions where a failure has immediate consequences for production. During turnarounds process industry valves is regularly on the critical path, and then predictability matters more than the lowest price. On replacement we always check the existing installation dimensions for process industry valves, so the pipework can stay untouched. We see demand for process industry valves rising in hydrogen and ammonia projects, where tightness requirements are high. Our customers work in chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, offshore and in hydrogen and ammonia projects. 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. We supply process industry valves both for new build and for replacement within existing installations. On project supply we record per position which execution of process industry valves was delivered, including materials and tests.
Selection criteria for process industry valves
For process industry valves total cost of ownership weighs more than purchase price, certainly when replacement has to happen during a shutdown. Standardisation across a plant saves on spare parts and on the knowledge the maintenance team has to keep current. A valve that is technically adequate but lacks the required certification simply cannot be bought by a chemical plant buyer. Total cost of ownership weighs more than purchase price, because a valve that has to be replaced during a shutdown costs a multiple. Standardising across several positions makes process industry valves simpler in maintenance and in spare parts management. On process industry valves we also state what an execution cannot do, because that prevents more problems than a list of advantages. Where there is doubt about process industry valves we quote two executions side by side, with the trade offs stated explicitly. Dutch Valve Vision deliberately works in the specials segment, because that is where technical knowledge makes the difference. We also advise when the conclusion is that a simpler or cheaper type is sufficient, because a satisfied customer comes back. We come back with a proposal that explains why we recommend a particular execution, including the alternatives we considered. Where process industry valves forms part of a safety function we record the fail position and required stroking time explicitly. For process industry valves we ask as standard for DN, pressure class, medium, temperature and required actuation.
Ordering process industry valves from Dutch Valve Vision
We handle an enquiry for process industry valves on its technical merits rather than as a price request that only produces a number. 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 process industry valves you can come to Dutch Valve Vision for the selection, the delivery and the support afterwards. We supply process industry valves as a loose product or as a fully assembled unit with actuator and accessories. Dutch Valve Vision stays available after delivery of process industry valves for technical questions and for parts. 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. We keep the configuration data for process industry valves on file, which saves a great deal of searching if a fault occurs later. Documentation on process industry valves has to be the kind a buyer or inspector accepts without discussion. Tests around process industry valves are carried out by us or on our instruction according to the requirements in the specification. We think along on the spare parts strategy for process industry valves, so critical positions stay covered. Even when the specification for process industry valves is not yet finalised, you can bring the question to us. Requests can be submitted by phone on +31 (0)70-2210560, by e-mail at sales@dutchvalvevision.com or through the contact form on our website.
Frequently asked questions about process industry valves
What exactly does process industry valves mean?
Process industry valves sit in the production lines themselves, where they isolate, divide and protect the process rather than simply closing a pipe. 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. Industrial valves together form the control and isolation system of a plant, and their reliability largely determines plant availability. In petrochemicals high temperature, high pressure, sour gas and strict emission requirements come together in the same plant. The answer on process industry valves depends strongly on operating conditions, which is why we always ask for those first. That makes process industry valves a subject where discussion up front pays for itself in operation. The subject of process industry valves touches both the construction of the valve and the way the plant is operated. Our customers work in chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, offshore and in hydrogen and ammonia projects.
Which executions of process industry valves are available?
For recurring supply we record the configuration, so follow up orders run without repeated engineering. Dutch Valve Vision deliberately works in the specials segment, because that is where technical knowledge makes the difference. A valve is selected on medium, pressure, temperature, tightness requirement and actuation, in that order. The sector in which the valve runs additionally determines which standards, inspections and documentation have to be supplied. We see this come back regularly in enquiries about process industry valves, and the answer is rarely a single sentence. We always explain why we arrive at a particular recommendation on process industry valves, so you can follow the reasoning yourself. The balance between required tightness and available operating force is a recurring tension on process industry valves. We think along from the basic specification through to the tag plate, and supply documentation that a buyer or inspector accepts without discussion.
Which materials are used for process industry valves?
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. Automation means the reliability of the actuator counts as heavily as the reliability of the valve body. We supply both individual valves and complete packages for a project scope, including actuation and documentation. For process industry valves a good specification up front is cheaper than a correction afterwards. The answer to this question on process industry valves changes as soon as the medium or the temperature changes. Operating conditions govern the service life of process industry valves far more strongly than the nominal figures on a datasheet. 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.
What should I watch technically on process industry valves?
What should I watch technically on process industry valves?
Which applications call for process industry valves?
In process industry the emphasis is on reproducibility, which translates into tight selection and good documentation. In pipelines and tank storage the drivers are isolation, safety and demonstrable tightness over long periods. They are used in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food production and in any plant running batch or campaign production. Our customers work in chemicals, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, power generation, offshore and in hydrogen and ammonia projects. This is one of the points on process industry valves where suppliers differ most clearly from one another. On process industry valves we prefer a well founded answer to a fast one that turns out to be wrong later. In an existing plant process industry valves is often part of a wider question about availability and maintenance. 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 determines the price and lead time of process industry 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 keep spare parts and overhaul kits mapped per project, so that a breakdown does not start with a search from scratch. 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. We come back with a proposal that explains why we recommend a particular execution, including the alternatives we considered. In most projects process industry valves turns out to be less standard than it first appears. On process industry valves we include start up and shutdown, because that is where the heaviest loading occurs. Our specialists are happy to discuss process industry valves on the basis of your P&ID, your datasheet or simply a photograph of the situation. We are based at Vlotlaan 641, 2681 TZ Monster in the Netherlands and can be reached on +31 (0)70-2210560 and at sales@dutchvalvevision.com.
What about maintenance and spare parts on process industry valves?
On repeat orders we record the configuration, so a follow up delivery is identical to the first and installation holds no surprises. Documentation such as material certificates, test reports and declarations is supplied as standard, matched to what the project requires. 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. 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. The answer to this question on process industry valves changes as soon as the medium or the temperature changes. This is one of the points on process industry valves where suppliers differ most clearly from one another. We record which execution of process industry valves was delivered, so a follow up delivery or spare part matches exactly later on. 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.
How do I request a quotation for process industry 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. A P&ID, a datasheet or even a photograph of the existing installation often helps us faster than a long description. 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. If you are unsure about this on process industry valves, we are glad to put the question alongside the actual process data. The answer on process industry valves depends strongly on operating conditions, which is why we always ask for those first. For repeat orders of process industry valves we record the configuration, so a follow up delivery is identical to the first. Call +31 (0)70-2210560 or send your specification to sales@dutchvalvevision.com and we will pick it up.