• COVER STORY: VELAN •
Testing demonstrated that the valve body ID without a sleeve was prone to rapid temperature variation, leading to sharp increases in stress. In contrast, the Hexa-Shield™ sleeve reduced the ID temperature by approximately half and limited thermal stress to less than one-third of the un-sleeved case. Both physical testing and finite element analysis( FEA) confirmed its effectiveness in lowering thermal gradients and stresses, thereby mitigating cycling-induced damage.
Figure 5. Thermal profile results showing temperature reduction and peak thermal stress mitigation with Hexa-Shield™ compared to no-sleeve configurations.
Hexa-Shield™: Commercially Scalable
Following successful validation, hundreds of Hexa-Shield™ AM sleeves have been produced and delivered commercially, demonstrating the technology’ s scalability, reliability, and reproducibility. Additive Manufactured provides rapid production, design adaptability for different valve sizes, and seamless integration into maintenance programs.
Operators benefit from extended valve life, reduced inspection frequency, and enhanced process reliability, establishing a benchmark for industrialized thermal protection in severe service valves.
Redefining Valve Protection For Velan, Hexa-Shield™ represents more than a novel application of additive manufacturing; it is a practical, high-performance solution to a long-standing challenge in severe service valve design.
By tackling thermal shock through a robust, application-driven approach, this technology has not only advanced valve protection but expanded the possibilities for engineering and manufacturing critical valve components. As refineries push the boundaries of temperature and pressure, solutions like Hexa-Shield™ will be pivotal in maintaining reliable, durable, and high-performing valves in the world’ s most demanding processes.
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By tackling thermal shock through a robust, application-driven approach, this technology has expanded the possibilities for engineering and manufacturing critical valve components.
Valve World Americas | October 2025 | www. valve-world-americas. com 9