What is a valve? And why is valve testing important?

15 Jul.,2024

 

What is a valve? And why is valve testing important?

What is Valve?

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Valve is an application that controls the flow of the fluid or gas. It manages direction or controls the flow of a fluid or gas by opening and closing of various passageways.

Valves play a vital role in most of the industries involving pipelines or other applications. Some of the common industries having valves are oil, gas, petrochemicals, marine industry, and many more.

There are 6 different types of valves namely globe, gate, ball, butterfly, check, and plug. Every valve is differently designed based on the characteristics of the application and also the pressure. Therefore, different industries use different valves.

Why is Valve Testing important?

As valves are a crucial application in many industries, it is important that the valves function accurately i.e. directing the right pressure without leakages. There have been cases that these high pressure systems have exploded due to leakages or inaccurate pressure transfer. Thus, it is important to ensure that joint-integrity is maintained in such a high pressure system for safety and productivity.

Valve testing is conducted as a maintenance process to evaluate the condition or health of an operational valve. Following are the functions of a valve testing machine on a high pressure system:

  • Testing for any valve leakages
  • Seat and seal test
  • Seat leakage inspection
  • Suitability for fluid & Gas testing

Valve testing is generally conducted to rectify issues like mechanical friction, flashing, cavitation, choked flow, erosion, and noise in valve to name a few.

The benefits of these valve testing machines are that all the tests are automated that allows them to create a log of all past data. Additional features like rotating test benches, vacuum testing, customizable equipment based on requirements are also provided.

Why does a valve corrode or deter?

As valves are constantly being exposed to gases and liquids there is a high probability of the system to start corroding. Other common problems that occur are that minerals get accumulated to create leakages.

How frequently is valve testing required?

Depending on the pressure faced by the valve, testing should be ideally conducted anywhere from every two months to three years based on the application and the pressure it works on.

What does ABS offer?

Being an industry leader for more than two decades, we have developed our brand as a one stop solution center for all industrial requirements. Our valve testing machines can test high pressure systems to seamlessly expand and evolve with your business.

Our tools offer the lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) and the highest return on investment (ROI) within the average life of our testing machine. The systems are designed to be more accurate and precise than other comparable products.

Our high pressure valve testing systems offer users the ability to simultaneously test multiple valves with one system. All these products include test barriers and hydraulic seal clamps. Also, to offer assurance of the highest standards, all brands offered by ABS are CE certified and manufactured in an ISO certified factory.

We hope this article was helpful in providing insight on the importance of valve testing and were able to clarify as many queries as possible. Visit us next time for more knowledge sharing articles.

Valve Testing and Inspection in Quality Control Explained

Quality inspections and valve testing are extremely important when it comes to the smooth running of fluid systems. Industrial valves are an integral part of many industrial machines and even the tiniest malfunction can have a ripple effect on the rest of the machine. Therefore, it&#;s important to carry out the right checks to ensure safety and efficiency. 

When it comes to testing valves, there are multiple valve testing procedures used and all of them need to conform to the strict acceptance criteria or performance standards. In this article, we&#;ll go through the key things you need to know about valve inspection procedures and tests.

 

What Are the Common Types of Valves?

Valves come in all different shapes and sizes depending on what industry or application they are being used for.

These are the most common types of valves:

  1. Butterfly Valve

  2. Gate Valve

  3. Globe Valve

  4. Gray Iron Valve Body

  5. Gray Iron Valve Cover

  6. Plug Valve

  7. Swing Check Valve

The Importance of Valve Testing

Valves need to conform to certain leakage standards and various other checks are also carried out. Valve testing and inspections should ideally be done every 12 months or so to ensure they are still in the best working condition. However, this will vary depending on the age of the valve, the condition of the valve, and what type of valve is in question.

How Do Valve Leakages Happen?

Valve leakages are a common phenomenon. They can happen for many different reasons. But there are two primary ways a leak can happen in a valve: fugitive emissions from a valve escaping into the atmosphere and leaks escaping through the valve but remaining contained within the piping system.

The company is the world’s best Valve Testing Machine supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

The first can naturally damage the environment and become a potential safety hazard to people. Valves are considered to be the major reasons for fugitive emissions being lost so quality management and testing of valves are important.

What Are the Common Causes of Valve Leakages?

Valve leakage is a common problem in most industries and it can be caused by a series of factors. But the most common causes of leakages in valves include a valve not being fully closed because the valve seat is being prevented from closing due to dirt, rust, or line debris; there being insufficient actuator travel, or the valve seat being damaged. There are naturally other factors that could cause leakages and testing will check for all of these potential issues.

What Are the Common Reasons for Leaks Into the Atmosphere?

The reasons for potential leaks into the atmosphere could include the gasket between the valve body and valve bonnet being damaged or the stem packing being out of place, worn, or damaged in some way.

What Is Valve Testing?

Valve testing is a process that is used to test and evaluate the health or condition of an operational valve. Naturally, there are many different types of tests and inspections that are performed on valves to ensure they are in the best condition and safe for use.

What Are the Valve Testing Procedures?

A typical testing procedure for a hydrostatic valve might involve the following stages:

  • The body of the valve gets filled with testing fluid at a certain temperature.

  • Pressure is applied for a certain length of time (usually for at least one minute).

  • The leakage is measured across the element of interest of the valve such as the stem, seat, or closure mechanism, using physical instruments while being visually inspected.

  • Finally, a valve should have a final visual inspection to check if it was damaged during the testing process.

What Are the Main Valve Leakage Tests?

Here is a list of the most common types of tests carried out to check for valve leakages and the types of valves associated with them:

Valve Seat Leakage Tests

The valve seat tests procedure involves placing a valve under pressure, then measuring the amount of leakage on the other side of the valve. The test pressures are often determined according to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) B16.34.

Back Seat Tests

Valve backseat tests are commonly conducted on valves that have a backseat element, such as the gate and globe valve types. The back seat tests are performed according to the approved test procedure, but they often involve opening the valve while the packing gland is loose or not installed.

Valve Closure Tests

The closure test is a test that is typically conducted on valves that are used in full closed and full open service. These kinds of valves include, but are not limited to, stop valves, globe valves, plug valves, and ball valves.

Shell Leakage Tests

Valve Shell Leakage Test is a test that helps identify the presence of water and other fluids in the valve casing. The test is conducted by pressuring the valve for a specified amount of time, usually one minute or more, and looking for leaks. They are performed on valves like a check, stop, and isolation types.

The Types of Valve Testing Standards

Below is a breakdown of some of the most common valve testing standards:

  • API 598: Valve Inspection and Test

  • API 527: Seat Tightness of Pressure Relief Valves

  • ASME B16.34: Valves &#; Flanged, Threaded, and Welding End

  • ASME PTC 25: Pressure Relief Devices

  • FCI 70-2: Control Valve Seat Leakage

  • ISA-S75: Hydrostatic Testing of Control Valves

  • ISO : Industrial Valves, Pressure Testing of Valves

  • MSS SP61: Hydrostatic Testing of Steel Valves

  • MSS SP70: Cast Iron Gate Valves, Flanged, and Threaded Ends

  • MSS SP71: Cast Iron Swing Check Valves, Flanged, and Threaded Ends

  • MSS SP78: Cast Iron Plug Valves, Flanged, and Threaded End

  • MSS SP80: Bronze Gate, Globe, Angle, and Check Valves

  • MSS SP85: Cast Iron Globe and Angle Valves

All of the above documentation can be gained through a third-party quality management company such as HQTS. Our inspectors are ready to perform testing on your valves to ensure only the best products leave your factory which keeps your customers happy and the environment in a better state.

Conclusion: Valve Testing Procedures in Quality Control

The quality control procedure for valves is integral to the success of any manufacturing process. Valves are important in many fields &#; and even the smallest malfunction can have a detrimental effect on operations. The valve inspection procedure ensures that the valve is free of defects and will meet the defined quality standards

There is a range of valve testing procedures. At HQTS, we have over 25 years of experience in quality management, which includes quality assurance and quality control. We are a global company and can help with valve testing across many regions. Contact us if you want to book your valve test today!

For more information, please visit Valve Test Machinery.