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hydrogen or helium . The valve stem is a dynamic seal that organisations rely on even though they have welded the rest of the system closed . Anyone that is familiar with a cryogenic processing plant has seen valves encased in a block of ice around the valve stem where super-chilled liquid escapes to the atmosphere . On Earth , leaking systems , though not ideal , can be addressed by refilling tanks ; in comparison to space , it seems as simple as ‘ just back the truck up and refill the liquid helium tank ’. This is not a luxury that is possible in the vacuum of space . This underscores the need for technological advancements that can eliminate leakage entirely . Magnetic actuation offers a groundbreaking solution by entirely removing the leak path . The process fluid is completely isolated from the atmosphere , creating a truly closed-loop system that is hermetically welded in place with zero static seals or packing to rely on in many cases . Designs of ‘ closed-loop ’ cryogenic systems in the vacuum of space have a fatal flaw if they rely on traditional externally actuated valves that allow for leaking past the valve stem to the atmosphere . Consider this : what might be possible now if standard valves leaked 0.000 parts per million into the atmosphere ?
Revolutionising valve technology for space
Magnetic actuation technology exemplifies innovation in addressing valve leakage . Initially developed while working on the Morpheus II planetary lander project , a MagDrive actuated valve was hermetically sealed and designed to handle liquid helium at extremely cold temperatures . Liquid helium is notoriously challenging to manage due to its low viscosity and high volatility . The liquid helium in the process line was below the extreme cryogenic temperature of -269 ° C ( or -452 ° F ), pressurised to 3500 PSI , and moving through the valve at supersonic speeds in an atmospheric vacuum . This is an ideal recipe for a leaking valve stem , which is considered one of the hardest things to seal , especially when applying a standard valve that relies on packing . The initial attempts to seal this challenge utilised a 6-foot standoff with various packing to seal a 1 ⁄ 4 ” needle valve . The motor required to actuate this valve was oversized and
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had large power requirements just to overcome the stiction of the still leaking packing . When magnetic actuation was applied , the valve was hermetically sealed and the emissions dropped to zero atmospheric leaks . This marked a significant breakthrough in valve technology . By employing magnetic actuation , the design eliminates the traditional stem seal , which is the primary source of leaks . This development not only eliminated the leak path to the atmosphere but also reduced the size of the valve since the 6-foot offset was no longer needed to isolate the packing from the extremely cold temperature . With the elimination of the packing , one other discovery was made : the power requirements to actuate the valve dropped significantly . There was no longer a stiction between the valve stem and the packing , which had to be overcome with massive amounts of torque delivered to the stem .
Down to earth
The success of magnetic actuation in containing cryogenic fluids for space applications has inspired broader uses in industries such as oil and gas , chemical processing , methane and
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hydrogen . These sectors often face similar challenges , complex fluids to manage with high pressures , extreme temperatures and the need to prevent emissions . This has not been a new topic of discussion for these challenges , but they continue to be essential . The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change met in Paris for COP21 , and this was the first time we saw 196 countries unite in an international treaty to combat climate change . Still , it all depends on the countries ’ efforts and commitments to reduce emissions for the overall impact . During COP27 , the United States launched the “ Net-Zero Government ” initiative , which 18 other countries have joined . These complex challenges and more generically called Fugitive Emissions , as anything that is escaping when not designed to allow the escape is a fugitive . Reducing fugitive emissions has become a high-priority goal for virtually every industry on Earth . With the added pressure on the environment , now the demands of investors and stakeholders on engagement in environmental improvements have been very much at the forefront of many decisions being made . Over the past few years , corporate |
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