Cracks appear, valves fail either by leaking to atmosphere or not sealing in the pipe or tank, and expose pumps, instrumentation and tank linings to possible damage. The results are delayed production ramp up that affect plant availability cutting profits dramatically, ultimately leading to penalties that further erode profits.
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
Valve failures are not just due to poor quality but can also be attributed to many other influencing factors. In fact, the value of the valve is very often overlooked in design of processing plants in mining today. Due to the number of valves used, this is normally where costs are cut, albeit that on average the valves portion on a project only makes up 5% of total value. This figure changes in accordance with the process.
A valve is not just a valve
The evidence of wrong valve selection and poor quality is often not always detected during the “cold commissioning” or the “pre-commissioning” stage when the process fluids that contain solvents and acids at higher temperatures are not introduced yet. However, as soon as the hot commissioning starts, the misconception that a “valve is valve” becomes visible. Process fluids at higher corrosiveness, abrasiveness, temperatures and pressures expose the problems.
5 steps to avoid commissioning troubles:
1. Invest time during the design phase to find the right solution
2. Select the appropriate type of valve and size it accordingly
3. Select the correct materials of construction taking into consideration application variables
4. Ensure the correct installation and orientation of the valves in the pipe or tank
5. Consult a valve specialist in case of doubts
Invest a little beforehand to save a lot afterwards
InterApp has a wealth of mining application experience that we apply our quality products to. A highly skilled technical sales team can help you choose the correct valve to ensure maximum plant availability and maximum profitability.
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