Flanged gate valves provide robust bidirectional isolation for critical piping systems across countless industrial applications. However, not all gate valves are created equal when it comes to performance, safety and longevity. There are several crucial factors to evaluate upfront before specifying and purchasing these valves.
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From understanding &#;how does a flanged gate valve work?&#; to determining the optimal materials and design configurations, making informed decisions upfront ensures your valve meets operating demands. Overlooking details can lead to premature failures, safety risks and unplanned maintenance down the line.
Key Considerations Before Purchasing Flanged Gate Valves
Here are some of the most important considerations to work through with your flanged gate valve manufacturer and representatives:
- Understanding Valve Operating Principles
While the core function of a flanged gate valve is simple on/off control, it&#;s important to understand the unique internal operating principles and potential failure modes. An experienced valve manufacturer can illustrate the internal dynamics and recommend designs and preventative maintenance protocols to maximize service life.
- Evaluating Body Material Compatibility
One of the biggest advantages of flanged gate valves is their vast range of available body and trim materials to resist harsh service conditions:
- Carbon/Alloy Steels &#; For basic water/air services and moderate temperatures.
- Stainless Steels &#; Exceptional corrosion resistance for chemical, food/bev and salt water.
- Nickel Alloys &#; Withstand high heat, extreme pressures, and corrosive fluids like sulfuric acid.
- Bronze/Brass &#; Applicable for some light oil services and commercial utilities.
- Determining Required Flange Specifications
Flanged gate valves need to comply with the accepted piping codes and standards. Before making a purchase, ensure compatibility and ease of maintenance:
- ANSI, EN, DIN, and other dimensional standards
- Pressure class ratings (150#, 300#, 600#, etc.)
- Flange facing styles (raised face, RTJ, tongue & groove)
- Test certifications (ASME, API, CE marking, etc.)
The chosen specifications impact everything from face-to-face dimensions to fastener sizes to allowed working pressures and temperatures. Verifying suitability upfront is crucial.
- Installation and Maintenance Requirements
How a flanged gate valve integrates into your piping layout is a key consideration for installation and ongoing maintenance access. Ask these questions related to installation and maintenance of flange gate valve:
- Will the valve be installed in tight quarters with obstructions?
- Are there certain orientation requirements (stem positions)?
- Can the valve be easily removed inline for service?
- What are the safety factors for disassembly/reassembly?
- Actuator, Testing and Documentation Needs
Beyond the basic valve components, there are several other considerations that can impact operation and compliance:
- Actuator type (handle, bevel gear, bypass valves, etc.)
- Testing methods (hydrotesting, NDE, packing adjustments)
- Material traceability certifications and documentation
- Special cleaning, coatings or plating requirements
- Supervisory installation and maintenance guidance
Overlooking these details can lead to operational issues, non-compliance risks and added future costs for services or replacements.
Conclusion
The upfront time spent thoroughly reviewing your operating conditions and requirements with an experienced flanged gate valve manufacturer pays dividends. They can guide selections, advise on best practices, and ensure the supplied valves meet all criteria for safety and performance.
Xintai Valve has extensive expertise across virtually every industrial valve application. Our comprehensive range of certified flanged gate valves are proven to handle the most demanding operating conditions. Contact our team today to discuss your upcoming projects and valve needs.
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Automatic control valves, much like everything else we purchase these days, are not all created equal. Some fall into the high quality bracket with pricing to match, while others hover closer to the lower quality and price sensitive end of the scale. Unfortunately, when evaluating control valve prices, it is not always clear what you are being offered and what standards the valve actually meets. Here are a few questions to consider and ask the supplier to ensure you get years of trouble free operation that lasts longer than it takes the sales person to drive out of your parking lot!
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Q 1 What materials are being used?
Make sure you know what the different components of the valve are made of, as this will certainly affect the life of your valve, specifically:
Body Material &#; is the valve body cast iron or ductile iron? Traditionally valves were cast iron but ductile iron has become the new standard due to its superior physical properties that are much better at weathering the elements.
Body Coating &#; Most of the world insists on fusion bonded coating of a valve, inside and out. Unfortunately here in North America, that is not always requested. This just makes common sense for valves that are constantly wet and sit in locations that are not always dry and pristine. A valve should last for many years, so insisting on a coated valve is a wise choice.
Seat Material &#; bronze is typically the common material for seats but over time, depending on water quality and velocities, bronze wears resulting in the need for replacement. This is time consuming and expensive as seat replacement requires a complete disassembly of the entire valve. Ideally go for stainless steel.
Valve Internals &#; Most valve manufacturers utilize stainless steel for their valve stems. Make sure that you ask what grade of stainless you are getting as not all stainless steel is created equal. 316 SS is always the best choice because it is harder and least likely to corrode.
External Fasteners &#; Over time valves experience condensation or flooding and this can play havoc with coated studs or bolts. There is nothing worse than trying to remove heavily rusted studs out of an old valve to perform maintenance. Request stainless steel fasteners as this will ensure that bolts will be removable at any age.
Q 2 Does the valve supplier fully understand your application?
Too frequently a specification will be requested and a valve is supplied that is simply the wrong valve for the job. It may also be the case that there is just a better solution. Ensure you give your valve supplier all the necessary pressure and flow details including details of the actual application and what you want this valve to do. Having the wrong valve for the wrong application, at best case will result in a significantly shorter life and worst case, a malfunction that can result in destruction of the valve and other parts of your water distribution system.
Q 3 Will this new valve fit into my existing piping layout?
Don&#;t be tempted to just stay with brand X because that is the valve you may be replacing and has the same lay lengths. Most manufactures can be quite innovative on providing solutions to combat varying lay lengths so explore all of you options rather than just settling because you think it may be easier.
Q 4 Do you need specialty tools for maintenance?
Nobody wants to have to carry around a specific tool that only performs one task. Ensure that your valve can be maintained with everything you would carry in regular tool kit. Some valve manufacturers require specialized seat removal tools, or vice jaws installed with copper jaws to protect valve stems. While these are great ideas, they are certainly not things that the average operator has in his toolkit.
Q 5 Will your personnel receive complimentary factory qualified training?
Control valves are not so difficult to understand and once taught, most operations personnel can easily perform maintenance. Ensure that you will not be reliant on the additional cost of having to bring out a factory person every time your valve requires maintenance. Request that a factory-trained representative is on site when the valve is commissioned. This will allow your operators to be schooled in the regular maintenance needs, know what to look for if things go awry and how to start up a valve in a new system or after service. Simple tricks like removing air out of the pilot system are valuable lessons to see in practice.
Q 6 Does your valve have a solid warranty?
These days having a product with the long term back up of the factory is important. Three years should be the standard to ensure there are no manufacturing faults.
Q 7 Can I make changes to the valve if required
Having a valve &#;expansion ready&#; for the future can save you money and make your decisions a whole lot easier. For example, can you add a limit switch or a position indicator easily? Or, if you need to move the pilot system to the other side of the valve, can you do it, or is it not possible because the valve body does not have the required connections? Things always change and a flexible valve gives you more options to keep your now perfect valve, perfect down the road.
Q 8 Does your valve meet industry standards?
There are third party accreditations that ensure your valve was built to the correct specifications. For example; NSF 61, WRAS, UL/FM, AWWA, ISO et.al. They are important because they ensure that the valve has been built to a given standard so the user can be assured they meet approval for such things as low lead content, bacterial growth tests, functional tests etc.
Q 9 Do you have local and factory support?
Make sure there is someone in the area that is factory trained and available to come out and assist when you have questions or problems. This sounds like a given but it&#;s best to ensure the local agent will in fact be there for you when you need him. When a valve fails, timing is usually of the essence so you should know whom to call prior to such an event.
Q 10 Is the valve solution offered able to handle future needs?
In the world of &#;low bid wins&#;, a supplier may be tempted to squeeze as small a valve as possible into the application in order to reduce price. Make sure that the offered solution will supply your needs for the foreseeable future without the burden and additional cost of having to change a valve in a couple of years.
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