Maintenance Tips for Globe Valves: Keeping Them in Top Shape

Industries know the worth of regular inspection and maintenance. They know that their overall performance in financial terms will be negatively affected if they lack regular maintenance. Especially, the oil, gas, chemical, food, and beverage industries have to focus heavily on valve maintenance systems. Their entire system relies on the valves and pipes. 

Any negligence could cause a shutdown and financial loss. This is why they have to isolate the valves and create a temporary downtime in every globe valve maintenance. Once they perform tag-in and tag-out activities, they move on to the periodic maintenance activities. Since it is a risky operation, only experts are capable of accomplishing it. Once they ensure all the steps are correct, they proceed with the maintenance. Here are some maintenance tips for globe valves that help industries stay operational.

Inspect Physical Damage and Weld It

First, inspect the physical damage on the globe valves. It is a standard operating procedure not only for the globe valves, but for every kind of valve. Whether it is for valve repair or periodic inspection, you will need to ensure the physical condition is satisfactory. Then you can move ahead. It will clear your doubts about possible cracks and leaks in a globe valve.

Inspect Corrosion from Moisture, Chemical, and Salt

In globe valve maintenance, you must carefully inspect for any type of corrosion. If there is any, find the root cause of it. Salt, chemical, and moisture can cause premature damage to any kind of valve. For globe valves, inspect the level of corrosion and take the necessary action. There are some preventive measures, such as anti-corrosion coatings, that can protect the valves’ bodies for a long time.

Deeply Inspect Bonnet Bolts, Packing, and Gasket

Then, you need to conduct a thorough inspection of the bonnet bolts and gaskets. Gaskets can wear out over time and require replacement. It is very important in the valve repair process because gaskets provide stable support and leak protection. Replace the old gaskets and install new ones. There could be possible signs of wear and tear on old gaskets. Likewise, tighten the bolts securely after the repair process.

Flush the Valves to Remove Contaminants

Globe valves contain various kinds of contaminants. You need to remove those rust and fungal contaminants in every maintenance. Remove all components from the valve before flushing it with water or a special chemical. Then you will eliminate every kind of blockage and contaminant inside it. Frequent use, especially in water operations, poses a risk of rust contamination. Flushing helps to clear out every type of dirt from a valve. 

Adjust the Seat and Its Ring Alignment 

Seats and rings can lose their positions slightly due to excessive use. Valves need realignment of the seat and rings during globe valve maintenance. Vibrations and water hammering could cause seat and rings misalignment. Don’t forget to reinstall these components in the proper alignment to get precise results. Otherwise, the flow rate and overall performance will not improve even after the maintenance.  

Inspect Leaks and Pressure Issues

Globe valve maintenance ensures there is no visible or hidden leakage. Some globe valves start experiencing problems after they are subjected to excessive pressure and vibrations. Some of them also get minor leaks and loose bolts. It means they need to be inspected regularly by collecting data about pressure differences.

Tighten the Threaded and Bonnet Bolts

In threaded and bolted globe valves, the bonnets are connected using bolts. These are the types in which the pressure is maintained through the bolts. Maintenance teams must tighten them in every maintenance activity to ensure optimal performance remains good. These bolts secure the bonnet so that it remains firmly in place on the valve. 

Inspect the Body and Its Alignment

During valve repair, inspect the overall body of the globe valve. Misassignment issues often occur when repacking valves after the maintenance process. Ensure that you align the components, particularly the bonnet, handle, stem, and body. Their alignment precision will lead to better performance. If the body alignment is correct, there will be no worries about leakage or pressure issues. It's essential to keep this in mind to ensure optimal alignment for the best results.

Do Not Over-Tighten the Handle and Bolts

Make sure you don’t over-tighten the handle and bolts. If you do, the bolts will lose their grip. Their threads will collapse, resulting in leaks and misalignments of the valve. In the globe valve maintenance process, you need to have expertise in the reinstalling process. The accurate tightening of bolts will occur if the maintenance team has the necessary knowledge. Over-tightening can damage the bolts permanently of you do it multiple times. Then it will increase your maintenance costs.

Lubricate the Stem and Other Moving Parts

Here is a very important part, specifically lubricating the moving parts in a globe valve. Every valve requires this step because if it is not performed, jamming and corrosion will occur inside the valves. The overall performance will suffer as a result. Therefore, in every valve repair process, you must lubricate the moving parts to ensure stable performance ahead. Your overall valve system’s performance relies on the maintenance routine you follow.

Conduct Pressure Tests

There are various kinds of tests, and a hydrostatic test is one of them. Typically, these tests are conducted to verify that there are no hidden fractures within a globe valve. The excessive pressure is released inside the valve beyond its limit to prevent leakage. Moreover, its shell test, seal test, packing test, and overall strength test are performed in steps. You will have to perform these steps to ensure there is no underlying fracture or risk of leakage and collapse in globe valves.

Conclusion

Perform these inspections and tests periodically to maintain the globe valve's optimal performance. Your maintenance consistency will lead to consistent valve performance. Various types of contamination and corrosion occur. You will need to remove them and replace the damaged and worn parts, such as seals, packing, and gaskets. Moreover, you will need to ensure that the valve alignment is perfect; otherwise, you will encounter numerous misalignment problems.