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Tag Archive: valves

1. Highlights From the 2017 Global Petroleum Show

   July 13, 2017 4:09 pm Comments Off on Highlights From the 2017 Global Petroleum Show

   DFT® Inc. recently had the opportunity to attend the 49th annual Global Petroleum Show. Held at Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta, from June 13-15, this exciting event provided a forum for energy and petroleum companies from all over the world to showcase their products and services.

   Every year, the conference displays and demonstrates new technologies, provides opportunities for attendees to network with fellow industry professionals across the entire supply chain, and conducts various educational seminars and conferences.

   This year, more than 50,000 energy professionals from 90 countries attended, with over 1,000 exhibitors set up to showcase new innovations.

   Tradeshow Highlights

   

   As part of the show’s comprehensive Energy Dialogues series, DFT® had the chance to hear from numerous industry thought leaders who addressed some of the sector’s toughest challenges.

   During the Low Carbon Innovation Forum, speakers discussed innovative ways petroleum companies can stay ahead of the curve while navigating new challenges. With a focus on revitalizing old industries to meet the new demands and expectations of today’s low-carbon economy, this forum offered ideas for meaningful development and growth in this shifting landscape.

   The team also particularly enjoyed the Energy Leaders Forum, in which industry leaders explored ways to inform and support government policy and regulations pertaining to the oil industry. Highlighting the importance of balancing traditional and renewable energy forms, this event provided valuable insight into the best ways to prepare for a future centered on renewable resources.

   Finally, at the NextShale Forum, our team had the chance to learn more about the future of shale gas; speakers discussed the sector’s various challenges and advancements while guiding companies on how to remain competitive on a global scale. With the shale industry on the precipice of resurgence, it’s critical for industry players to understand the best ways to navigate the demand for lower prices while meeting specific countries’ environmental regulations and fulfilling international commitments.

   DFT®’s Petroleum Technology Showcase

   Aside from attending these events and many others, our team also got the chance to showcase some of our leading oil and gas valves solutions, including:

   • A Preview of DFT’s New TLW™ Check Valve
   • SCV® THREADED In-Line Check Valves

   These solutions are ideal for a wide range of oil and gas applications, including:

   • Crude and refined product lines
   • Condensate lines and cooling towers
   • Discharge of compressors

   The team at DFT® had a great time at this year’s Global Petroleum Show, and we’re hoping to attend next year’s event as well.

   To learn more about our valve solutions for the energy and petroleum industry, check out our dedicated Petroleum Production and Refining industry page and DFT’s Case Study page highlighting success stories from the field.

2. Once Upon a Time This Valve Worked Well

   January 20, 2015 4:34 pm Comments Off on Once Upon a Time This Valve Worked Well

   Our process had to be shut down again.  It seems that the original valve is no longer up to the task.  Should I continue to simply repair the valve or should I look for another solution?  Up until now, it was far easier to repair the valve and/or replace it in kind … but my process efficiencies are going down and I need to find a solution.  Where do I start?

   Changing Conditions

   I pull out the valve data sheet and take a look at the original conditions.  Wow! I can see immediately that things have changed –

   • The plant has aged nearly 20 years;
   • We replaced the pump on that line 5 years ago;
   • We have modified the piping in the area of the valve;
   • We changed the fluid chemistry;
   • Instead of operating continuously, the plant is now cycling

   Every time conditions change, we need to review the impact upon the control system.

   Aging Systems

   As a system ages, it does not get any cleaner.  Whether it is due to pipe scale or there is other sediment in the system, a valve that worked in a clean system may not work as well in the older system.  We have periodically been pulling the valve with cage style trim in order to drill open the passages.  We have also noticed that the valve trim is wearing out more quickly.  The valve simply requires more maintenance.

   New Pump

   Installing a new pump can change how the system operates.  A new pump generally means that we have a new pump curve to work with.  The new pump curve means that the flows and pressures have changed from the original specification.

   Modified Piping

   We added a new branch line.  A closer look reveals (I use my 20D² rule of thumb) that the new line may have lowered the flow rate through the control valve.  Is it possible that the control valve is no longer properly sized?  The trim in an oversized control valve erodes more quickly than the trim in a properly sized valve.  Alternately, if the valve is undersized, I may be seeing high velocity erosion which also negatively affects trim life.

   Changing Chemistry

   Although we have always maintained our chemistry within recommended boundaries, we can see that our targets have changed over the years.  Newer technology allows us to more closely hit the mark.  Is it possible that this has tipped the balance and we are now seeing erosion-corrosion in the valve since the originally specified materials are no longer noble enough?

   Cycling vs. Base Loading

   When we changed from a base loading operation to a cycling operation, we started to strain our control valves.  Now they operate more frequently and often work in the low end of the range.  By changing the operation, I now need to have a valve that is suitable for severe service when previously I could use a standard valve.

   The DFT HI-100™ control valve can be a good choice when conditions change.  It deals well with dirty fluid, can be sized properly for the new conditions, is not subject to erosion corrosion and is designed to perform well in the most severe services.

3. The Importance of Good Information About Valves

   January 6, 2015 4:34 pm 3 Comments

   Proper valve selection is critical for ideal operation of any system. Improper valve selection can cause system underperformance or failure. The greatest problem when selecting valves is incorrect information.

   Often, we may only have access to incomplete or dated information regarding valve applications. Do we know enough about the system the valve will be used in or the main purpose of its use? This “bad information” can create a situation where the theoretical situation does not match reality.

   Good Information is Key

   “Bad information” comes in many forms. Original design specs might be difficult to obtain, and having those specs does not guarantee success. Occasionally, specs aren’t properly updated. Information that was good at first can fail to incorporate changes in process conditions. If the actual pressure, temperature, flow-rates or the media is different than that which was used to select the valve, it may fail or fail to work properly.

   When choosing a gate, globe, ball or check valve, we always want the valve to be operating in the full open or closed position. Control valve selection, however, targets 40% to 60% open for normal flows. When most control valves operate below 20% open or over 80% open, they can lose their ability to control properly.

   What information is required to properly size a valve? Fluid type, operating pressures and temperatures upstream and downstream of the valve, and the flow rates associated with these conditions are required information to have.

   Knowing What is the Right Valve for the Application

   There are many different types of valves available. They do not all work the same way or for the same purposes. Each valve type has its advantages and disadvantages.

   For proper control valve selection, it is important to understand how the valve is used to control system flow. For example: is the system tuned for a constant set point, or is it set to modulate a variable flow over time? The layout of the piping system and locations of reducers and elbows also impact valve performance.

   Often, choosing what seems to be the most efficient valve might not be the best valve for application. Replacing a valve “in kind” with an upgraded version of an older valve might actually do more harm than good.

   Poor Performance – Get Good Information

   Unfortunately, the blame for poor performance often lands on the installed valve when it is actually bad information that caused its failure. Simply repeating the bad information to select a different valve is doomed to have the same results. When DFT Inc. is asked to troubleshoot an installation, we start by collecting all of the available information and check for “bad information” concerning flow conditions and application mismatches with respect to the installed valves.

   Take the time to get good information. Fortunately, the information is more readily available today than it has been in the past through trending information. If you can provide actual system operational information, your chance for success increases significantly.

4. Why Are We Always Repairing This Valve?

   November 24, 2014 3:18 pm Comments Off on Why Are We Always Repairing This Valve?

   I just had my boss read me the riot act – again. I exceeded my valve maintenance budget for the year—with three months to go. She certainly won’t buy into the fact that I did not get the budget that I asked to have. It’s up to me to determine how to lower our costs to meet the budget.

   So I start to look at the bad actors.  Sure enough, there are a handful of valves that stand head and shoulders above the rest … all of them are control valves.  By keeping these valves running properly, our efficiencies are up.  But instead of getting a pat on the back for improving output, I get a slap on the wrist for wrecking a budget.  What can I do?

   

   One thing that you can do is to take a look at how the control valve is sized. Trending data is excellent for determining the actual operational conditions; compare this data to the information given in the valve specification. Control valves are designed with these factors in mind:

   • Fluid type
   • Upstream pressure
   • Downstream pressure
   • Flow Rate
   • Temperature

   For proprietary fluids, we need to know information concerning the density and vapor pressure of the upstream fluid if it is a liquid, or the molecular weight and other factors if it is a gas.

   Next, we need to understand where the control valve should be operating.

   • Less than 10% open – avoid since the valve will quickly wear;
   • Plan to keep the range of operation between 20% and 80% open;
   • Try to keep the “normal” control range between 40% and 60% open;
   • Greater than 90% open – avoid since the valve will tend to wash out (erode from constant water flow).

   If we have trending information on the valve, we can quickly see if they are operating in the proper operating range. If not, give the valve manufacturer the operational conditions and ask them to tell you where the valve is operating.

   Always keep in mind is that the valve trim size is determined by the maximum flow condition. The unintended consequence is often that control valve becomes oversized for the application.

   The bottom line is that an oversized control valve is more expensive to install, has more expensive parts to replace, and wears out more quickly.

   The HI-100™ is a low-cost valve with robust features designed for long service life. Using this control valve will help you keep your maintenance budget in line.

   

5. Keeping Up With The Food & Beverage Industry

   October 15, 2013 7:57 pm Comments Off on Keeping Up With The Food & Beverage Industry

   The food and beverage industry in the United States is undergoing significant changes when it comes to trends, regulations, and tastes. Consumers are looking for healthier options, more attractive packaging, and more local ingredients. The industry has risen to the challenge and is rapidly evolving to meet these new consumer desires. Food processing has shed its reputation for unhealthy and unattractive food as new technologies allow companies to mass produce up-to-the-minute products such as guacamole and hummus without adding tons of preservatives. Regulations to lower sodium and trans fat counts as well as national movements to incorporate more healthy foods into school lunches has also presented a challenge to the food and beverage industry, but it was a challenge that was met with innovation and success. The industry is booming and food processing companies have come up with new and fresh ways to stay competitive and give consumers exactly what they are looking for.

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