INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
End User Valve Design Specifications
As valve operators , end users develop their own standards and regulations to ensure valves are complying with international best practices as well as raise the bar for the required minimum of optimum design versus product quality to ensure they are ready to operate and function .
By Mohanned Waleed Tarabzouni , Piping and Valves Engineer , Pipeline Technical Support Division - Saudi Aramco
Valves are significant components of an operating facility where isolation is required . They are required to be carefully selected and specified to be suitable for its intended function and purpose . This includes complying with the listed international standards and best practices in addition to developing internal codes or specifications to suit each organization ’ s application and systems .
Design Specifications
For example , Aramco , as a major energy company , has a structured internal set of standards , procedures , and forms to serve as minimum requirements for specifying valves . These codes regulate specifications that address many aspects including but not limited to :
• Design
• Service
• Material selection
• Testing
• Inspection
The requirements of these developed codes vary for the service , application , and facility function . Several factors dictate requirements that evaluate pressure , temperature , fluid type , and other risk factors .
Service Requirements
Service requirements mandated in Aramco ’ s codes , for example , include applications such as sour hydrocarbons , high temperatures , corrosive brine products , and so forth . These requirements include the following :
• Subsea or underwater valves shall be of ball design and class 300 as a minimum with ring joint connection .
• Clean dry gases can be equipped with soft seated valves with double block and bleed features .
• Gas flare systems shall have gate , ball , or triple offset butterfly valves only .
• Isolation valves shall be fire tested and design verified .
• Any drain or vent shall be capped with a plug or blind .
• Pig trap main valves shall be of DIB- 2 seat configuration and of throughconduit gate or ball valves only .
• Additionally , trim material for pig trap valves shall be duplex stainless steel with seat pockets overlaid with Inconel 625 .
• Blowdown or kicker applications shall have lubricated plug valves .
• Instrument isolation valves shall be of API 602 gate valves .
Chaoda USA maintains an extensive inventory of metal-seated ball valves in Missouri City , TX : Sizes ½ ” through 8 ” | ASME Class 150 - 600 Body Materials Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel
Chaoda has 25 + years of experience in manufacturing metal-seated ball valves for the most aggressive applications involving high-temperature , erosive and corrosive services . As a result , we have developed in-house capabilities using the latest technologies for hard coatings , overlays , and grinding and lapping for the full range of our metal-seated ball valve products .
12411 Citypark Dr ., Suite 100 Missouri City , TX 77489 | www . chaodausa . com | 832-929-9944
24 Valve World Americas | April 2024 • www . valve-world-americas . net