The pipeline situation determines the type of valve to use. Therefore, manufacturers must make valves out of materials that can withstand harsh conditions. They should be strong to prevent wear and tear and not compromise the performance standards. Any valve company needs to consider the following factors before picking a valve. They include:
1. Pressure
In pipelines, it is common for high pressure to overcome weak valves. As a result, when a lot of fluid pressure is applied, it might not handle the force without opening. Due to this, oil and gas valve manufacturers ensure the valves are steady to handle the high pressure and maintain optimal performance.
2. Temperature
Petroleum products are flammable, making the oil and gas sector sensitive to temperature. Therefore, valves used in this sector should be able to handle and retain temperatures within acceptable limits. In addition, it helps in meeting requirements as metals expand when heated and shrink when cooled. Therefore the oil and gas manufacturers, while designing the valve, have to consider all this. If all these are done, it will allow optimal functioning.
3. Corrosive conditions
Crude oil contains several fuels that go through a separation during refinement. In addition, it contains highly corrosive components that require strong non-reactive valve materials. In this pipeline, stainless steel valves or ones made out of improved steel alloys are the best.
4. Pressure relief
If too much pressure is applied, it causes ruptures and malfunctioning even in the strongest durable valves. Therefore most oil pipelines might need to install a pressure relief valve. An example is a check valve, which can work very well in such circumstances. These valves can be opened to remove pent-up air pressure or allow it to flow down the pipeline. Also, a diaphragm valve may be used as a throttling valve.
There are a lot of operation considerations to make before selecting a valve. Therefore, before purchasing, please ensure it fits the purpose.
