Problem-solving
Unexpected problems in flow control equipment are the bane of all process engineers looking to start up projects on schedule . Valves are often ( incorrectly ) identified as being ‘ bad actors ’ as the root cause tends to lie elsewhere , is the experience of
Valmet ’ s Mr Börjesson . Better on-site practices could be the solution , is his message .
By David Sear , Valve World
Simple steps can prevent valve issues during start-up
As Service Sales Project Manager in Valmet ’ s Flow Control business line , Peter Börjesson has been involved in numerous greenfield and brownfield projects . He has also witnessed many EPCs and end users allocate budget for the purchase of spare parts or even complete extra valves in advance , in a bid to ensure timely plant availability . After all , flow control problems are not uncommon during project commissioning and start-up . Peter ’ s message , however , is that whilst such purchases may be well-intentioned , the EPCs and end users are in fact trying to anticipate valve problems which are easily preventable . A little forethought , he says , can avoid both financial costs and help keep projects on track . Moreover , he states , although the problems may manifest themselves in the valves , the root cause is often due to inadequate working practices elsewhere . By way of example , Peter recalls discussions early in his career with a seasoned flow control engineer . “ For want of a better description , he was a real old-timer . A man who let his hands do the talking . Thanks to thirty years travelling the world to provide assistance during the start-up of power plants , he had become a real expert as regards trouble-shooting . And here ’ s my point : although he had helped to resolve countless flow control issues , he categorically stated that valves from reputable sources were never the actual cause of problems during
Photo : Valmet
start-up . When I pushed him , he started to reel off a whole list of root causes , including the valve being installed the wrong way around or upside down , the valve having suffered damage during installation or whilst in on-site storage , broken limit switches due to careless handling , issues in the instrumentation system , ancillary devices which had been broken by someone stepping on them , actuated valves installed incorrectly leading to water flowing into instrumentation , valves left outside which had rusted after being left submerged after heavy rainfall … his list went on and on !”
Meet Peter Börjesson
In line with his personal motto - don ’ t compromise with quality – Peter regularly shares his personal experiences and insights into valves and flow control in order to promote safety and efficiency . Recently for example he provided observations on flange guards for bolted joints for readers of Valve World India & Middle East . Peter Joined Valmet ( formerly Neles ) in 2018 and is currently Service Sales Project Manager in Valmet ’ s Flow Control business line .
24 Valve World March 2024 www . valve-world . net