O&M

Equipment Showcase: Valves, Piping, and Fittings

Proper valves, pipes, and fittings are important for successful operation of power generation facilities. This equipment includes products with versatile designs to establish effective joining and sealing methods, and better joint integrity, ensuring safe operation in thermal, nuclear, and renewable energy power plants. Manufacturers cite lower installation costs, improved safety and efficiency, and a reduction in scheduled and unscheduled maintenance downtime when promoting their products. Some of the leading manufacturers and service companies for power plant valves, pipes, and fittings are featured here.

Boldrocchi Unveils Gas Turbine Diverter Damper

Boldrocchi earlier this year completed successful testing of its new 7-meter by 7-meter diverter damper for a gas turbine. The diverter damper is a three-way valve that discharges exhaust gas from the gas turbine, either into the atmosphere via a bypass stack or into a heat recovery steam generator. The damper offers extreme capacity and surpasses the norm in terms of geometrical sealing, sealing pressure, and closing time, while reducing maintenance, and easing transportation and assembly. This new diverter also allows for a rapid transition from single cycle to combined cycle systems. It is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 700C (1,300F), vibrations, and gas turbulence, as well as elevated wear of components. The diverter is equipped with an air sealing system that allows the sealing degree on exhaust gases to equal 100% (full tightness). The air sealing pressure is greater than +500 millimeter of water column (mm wc), whereas original equipment manufacturers typically require +50 mm wc. The diverter is equipped with hydraulic actuators, giving it a normal operation time of less than 60 seconds and an emergency closing time of less than 20 seconds, as per the customer’s request. However, the diverter has been engineered and manufactured to obtain even shorter actuation times. Boldrocchi has designed this diverter to offer easy transportation and assembly. The diverter can be pre-assembled in a few pieces or delivered fully assembled (in one single part). Boldrocchi has engineered this diverter for easy installation under single cycle exhaust stacks, instead of existing bend ducts. Boldrocchi, Biassono, Italy

Boldrocchi

www.boldrocchigroup.com

Spirax Sarco Valves Enable ‘Plug and Play’ Installation

Spirax Sarco provides products and services for thermal energy solutions. Its Spira-trol modular control valves leave the factory pre-commissioned for applications, enabling quick “plug and play” installation. The Spira-trol modular design, with quick-change “clamp-in-place” seat, means its duty can be altered to match changing plant conditions, rather than replacing the entire valve. The self-aligning clamp-in-place seat also simplifies maintenance, so no special tools are required and there is no need to take the valve out of the pipeline. This achieves considerable cost savings compared to conventional designs with screw-in seats that often seize in place, requiring valve removal, incurring a lengthy plant shutdown. Both electrically and pneumatically actuated Spira-trol valves from 1/2 inch to 4 inches, up to flanged ANSI 150 versions, are available. With the complete Spira-trol range extending up to 8 inches and ANSI 600 pressure envelope, Spirax Sarco can offer control solutions from heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, through process and power, to severe service applications. Spirax Sarco, Cheltenham, United Kingdom

Spirax Sarco

www.spiraxsarco.com/global/us/

First Control Valve to Achieve API 641 Certification

Clarke Valve has announced the API 641 certification of its proprietary Shutter Valve design, the first control valve to achieve this certification of low-fugitive-emission performance. The API 641 standard applies to all stem seal materials and requires a stringent maximum allowable leakage of 100 parts per million by volume (ppmv). This API test standard calls for 610 cycles of the valve under extreme temperature fluctuations to evaluate emissions performance over an accelerated life cycle. Fugitive emissions from legacy valve designs in industrial facilities are a major contributor to air pollution, and the Shutter Valve’s unique design provides a superior seal at the valve stem, reducing these emissions. The patented Shutter Valve was independently tested by Yarmouth Research and Technology, which certified the valve passed testing with less than 20 ppmv of leakage, well below the 100-ppmv limit. The Shutter Valve’s distinct design, already the best performing control valve in the world, is now also the most environmentally friendly control valve ever certified. Clarke Valve, Miami, Florida

ClarkeValve

www.clarkevalve.com

Westinghouse Introduces Sigma RCP Seal

Westinghouse has launched its Sigma Reactor Coolant Pump (RCP) Seal, designed for seamless integration as a drop-in Number 1 seal replacement and industrial fitting for Westinghouse RCPs. Intended for up to 12 years of reliable service, it yields cost savings, dose reduction, and an improved risk profile to nuclear power plants. The Sigma seal is optimized for predictable performance and reduced environmental sensitivity, and is supported by more than 20,000 hours of development and qualification testing. The Sigma seal is fully compatible with the Westinghouse SHIELD Passive Thermal Shutdown Seal. The company’s approach offers a comprehensive and cost-effective sealing solution for exceptional reliability and service life with integrated passive safety features. The new Sigma seal design is built on more than 40 years of Westinghouse RCP seal development experience and operational data. Westinghouse RCP seals have logged more than 150 million hours of successful operation in more than 600 RCPs in pressurized water reactors around the world. Westinghouse Electric Co., Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Westinghouse

www.westinghousenuclear.com

Boiler Blowdown Valves Incorporate Rotating Disc Valve Technology

Boiler blowdown valves from Everlasting Valve incorporate the company’s patented Rotating Disc Valve technology for consistently superior, long-lasting performance. These manual on-off valves effectively blow down sludge formed in steam boilers. They are available in quick opening and slow opening straight and angle configurations, for applications that include steam boiler blowdown, surface blowdown, water column drain, and shut-off and stop valves. Everlasting’s Boiler Blowdown Valves are based on ASME boiler and pressure vessel section 1 codes and ANSI B16.31 power piping codes. These valves are designed to significantly lower your maintenance costs and downtime. The seats and discs are available in stainless steel, with the valves in cast iron or carbon steel, with screwed or flanged connections. Everlasting Valve, South Plainfield, New Jersey

Everlasting+Valve+Company

www.Everlastingvalveusa.com

Copes-Vulcan DSCV-SA Offers Flexibility

The DSCV-SA (Direct Steam Converting Valve—Steam Atomization) from Copes-Vulcan, an SPX FLOW brand, embraces the demands of operational excellence, with very tight shut-off. It eliminates thermal shocks, and has high rangeability, size, and installation flexibility combined with low maintenance. The DSCV-SA Copes-Vulcan Pressure Reducing and Desuperheating Valve is of angle-style construction with the steam inlet through the branch connection and the steam outlet through the in-line connection. The connections can be either flanged or butt welded depending upon customer preference. The units are manufactured in two parts to allow for greater customer flexibility. The high-pressure side of the unit is of cast or forged construction with the lower-pressure outlet section being of fabricated construction. The valve is provided with a bolted bonnet closure for pressure ratings up to and including ANSI 900#, and a pressure seal closure for ratings ANSI 1500# up to and including ANSI 4500# rating. The valve can be fitted with single stage HUSH, multi-stage HUSH, or Copes-Vulcan RAVEN trim technology depending upon the pressure drop and to meet the requirements of specific noise levels. The valve is provided with high-pressure balancing, single-seat trim construction utilizing a tandem trim pilot operated concept ensuring tight and repeatable class V shutoff per ANSI/FCI 70-2. Copes-Vulcan / SPX FLOW, McKean, Pennsylvania

SpxFlow

www.spxflow.com/en/copes-vulcan/

Special High-Quality, Leak-Tight Welding Hose for Argon Feed

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT now manufactures tailor-made argon gas feed hose assemblies with leak tight fittings, an advancement in weld-purging technology. The natural rubber feed hose comes complete with an argon regulator, which directly connects to any range of inflatable tube and pipe weld purging systems at one end, and to the gas source at the other. These hose assemblies can also be used for transporting other gases where a guaranteed leak-tight delivery is required. A selection of leak-tight adaptors is provided for attaching the argon gas regulator while the pre-fitted other end joins with all HFT Argweld Weld Purging Systems. All of these high-quality fittings help eliminate welding connection difficulties that welders might experience on-site. The argon gas feed hoses can also be supplied to all other tungsten inert gas/gas tungsten arc welding (TIG/GTAW) welders with their own special fitting as required. The hoses are available off the shelf in a standard range of lengths, 30 meter (m), 25 m, 20 m, 15 m, 10 m and 5 m. Conforming to British Standard BS EWN 599 Quality Standard, the argon gas feed hoses each have a temperature range from –30C to 80C and a safety factor of three times working pressure 20 bar (300 psi). Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT, Burry Port, UK

HFT logo

www.huntingdonfusion.com

Victaulic Offers Pipe Joining Technology

Victaulic’s QuickVic SD Installation-Ready System is a plain end pipe joining technology designed for use on carbon steel systems sized 2 inches/DN50 and down. It is the most economical and efficient pipe joining solution for small diameter systems, offering a significant total installed cost savings when compared to current pipe materials and installation methods. The system includes Installation-Ready couplings, fittings and valves, and the PC3110 Cut & Mark Tool. Available in sizes 1/2 inch to 2 inch/DN15 to DN50, the products can be used on Schedules 10 through 80 carbon steel pipe and have a maximum working pressure and temperature rating of 300 psi/2068 kPa/21 bar and 250F/120C (with the EPDM [ethylene propylene diene monomer] rubber gasket). Victaulic, Easton, Pennsylvania

Victaulic logo

www.victaulic.com

ELSCAN Pipe and Elbow Scanner

The ELSCAN Pipe and Elbow Scanner semi-automatically scans straight pipe and pipe elbows with an outside diameter from 4 to 42 inches. This lightweight, dual-axis scanner helps power plants avoid flow-accelerated corrosion by employing a multi-element or phased-array ultrasonic transducer to collect high-resolution thickness measurements. Adjustable magnets provide active contact to the pipes and elbows being inspected for efficient measuring. With two encoded axes, the scanner can inspect any portion, or all of a pipe elbow. WesDyne, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westinghouse Electric Co., is a global supplier of non-destructive examination (NDE) products and services and a demonstrated leader in the power industry for creating and applying innovative, advanced NDE technology solutions to resolve ultrasonic inspection challenges. The scanner can be purchased independently for self-performed inspections or the WesDyne NDE inspection team can provide full-service, cost-effective and timely piping inspections. WesDyne International, Madison, Pennsylvania

WesDyne

http://amdataproducts.com

Beck Actuators Offer Industrial Valve Control

Beck actuators are a solid solution for industrial valve control. They provide positioning accurately to 0.1 degree, and solve the problems inherent to other actuator technologies including traditional electric actuators, pneumatic actuators, and hydraulic actuators. Beck actuators require virtually no maintenance and position consistently over time and regardless of load. They require minimal power to operate, and there are no duty limitations to worry about because Beck actuators will not overheat or burn out. All Beck actuators are capable of continuous duty with no modulation or runtime limitations, operating 24/7 regardless of service. The new Group 57 rotary valve actuator adds features and capabilities designed to meet the requirements found in many remote and hazardous locations. New features and advantages include the ability to run on 12–48 VDC power, making them ideal for use with solar panel operation. They have Class I, Division 1, Groups B, C, and D hazardous location ratings. They have built-in electric fail-safe capability with optional, internal ultracapacitor backup power. Beck-Harold Beck and Sons, Newtown, Pennsylvania

Beck

www.haroldbeck.com

Conval Offers High-Performance Gate Valves

Swivldisc high-performance, severe service gate valves are available from Conval in 1/2 inch through 4 inch sizes in ASME/ANSI pressure classes through 4500#. Standard materials of construction are carbon steel 216 GR WCB, Chromalloy SA-217 GR WC9, SA-217 GR C12A, and SA-351 CF3M. Other materials are available upon request. Options include bypass, air, or motor actuators. Swivldisc gate valves feature a superior wedge gate design that employs a flexible disc. This disc permits the seating surface to achieve perfect alignment and establishes a tight seal that is not possible with standard wedge gates. Conval, Enfield, Connecticut

Conval logo

www.conval.com

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