PLANT MANAGEMENT
CANCELLING CAVITATION
Valve trim manufacturing advances are vital to reducing control cavitation
are screwed or welded into the valve body, further enabling easy and effi cient maintenance and parts replacement. A wide range of actuation is also available, including pneumatic, electric and manual options. Semens-Flanagan continues: “As both the 840-3D and 860-3D provide
Advances in trim components are helping alleviate cavitation problems
challenges of having pressure drop points in a plant is that cavitation can occur, causing unnecessary fl uid fl ashing, downstream disruptions, vibrations and physical damage to components. Advances in control valve trim manufacturing are set to alleviate cavitation issues that are costing process and industrial plants thousands of pounds in maintenance, repair and operational (MRO) spend. Damage caused to components by cavitation can create excessive noise, erosion and pressure transients. In turn, this can result in valve or piping vibration, and potentially fatigue failure of vital control valves, notes Mike Semens-Flanagan, global engineering director at IMI Critical Engineering. “Cavitation remains an ongoing,
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disruptive phenomenon that must be addressed to ensure plants and facilities remain as productive as possible,” Semens- Flanagan adds, “With external factors such as the current energy crisis continuing to
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ontrolling pressure drop changes in any process operation is vital to plant effi ciency and the longevity of components. One of the biggest
squeeze margins for plant operators throughout the oil and gas, power and nuclear industries, the downtime cavitation can cause is more costly than ever. “I’d strongly encourage plant stakeholders to explore diff erent trim technologies that can limit fl uid exit velocities and allow for greater control of the pressure drop let-downs that cause cavitation.”
A NEW APPROACH To mitigate cavitation-related downtime, IMI Critical Engineering has developed the 840-3D (globe) and 860-3D (angle) control valves. Featuring a customisable, 3D-printed trim that uses IMI’s patented DRAG technology, fl uid is directed through a multi-stage path to reduce diff erential pressure while also eliminating erosion, vibration and noise problems. Both valves are available in sizes 1in to 16in and are suitable for use across a broad range of applications, benefi tting from top entry design for easy inspection and maintenance. No internal components
greater control over fl uid velocities, one of the chief causes of cavitation is eliminated at source. Even in situations where gas bubbles may form, the fact that either valve can divide the fl ow into many small channels is instrumental to reducing energy to consistent and safe levels. “Ultimately, the ability to use 3D printing to manufacture control valve trim components represents a step-change in combatting cavitation. Put simply, this level of durability and customisation is not possible with traditional subtractive manufacturing techniques. Although cavitation has long plagued operations teams throughout the oil and gas, power, and nuclear industries, we hope the advent of 3D-printed trim components will fi nally eliminate one of its chief causes for good.”
The 840-3D valve from IMI Critical Engineering
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