The valve body , plug , and operating components should be able to withstand the highest temperatures under continuous normal and transient operating conditions , as well as the highest transient pressures expected .
Stainless steel valves in the chemical industry
Valves are essential to many industries and are used under all sorts of circumstances . While their application usually determines the optimal materials for the specific valve , stainless steel offers properties that can be very beneficial .
By Srikumar Chakraborty , ex ASP / SAIL , Freelance Consultant
Valves play a vital role in any piping system in the chemical , oil , and gas industries . Stainless steel , with its properties of strength , ductility , corrosion and heat resistance , low maintenance and unlimited lifecycle , has become an obvious choice due to its low cost . By adding alloys like chromium ( Cr ), nickel ( Ni ), molybdenum ( Mo ), manganese ( Mn ), and silicon ( Si ), stainless steel can attain higher degrees of corrosion resistance , durability , high temperature and pressure tolerance , and versatility . Stainless steel is ideally suited for aggressive environments , which in industrial applications include pharmaceutical and food and drink manufacturing processes that take their toll on processing equipment . In such demanding applications , stainless steel is a good material for valves because of its favourable lifecycle cost .
Valve selection for the chemical industry Valves are critical components with a wide range of applications , from power plants to water systems . The fundamentals of valve selection should be considered to ensure optimal performance and safety . When selecting chemical valves , the most important elements to consider are the chemical properties of the working medium , the product being handled , temperature and pressure . The valve body , plug , and operating components should be able to withstand the highest temperatures under continuous normal and transient operating conditions , as well as the highest transient pressures expected . Finally , the field requirements for leakage should be considered .
Materials Common materials for the valve body and area of applications are :
• Grey cast iron / carbon steel : unsuitable for use in seawater without cathodic protection or coating .
• Austenitic ( Ni Resistant ): for seawater , brackish water , and wastewater .
28 Stainless Steel World March 2024 www . stainless-steel-world . net