Valve monitoring
Valves that pass fluid (e.g. a gas or a liquid) when closed can cause process problems, waste energy and can have serious safety implications.
Valve stems, for example, may leak gas, potentially polluting the atmosphere or increasing safety hazards on-site. Pressure relief valves lifting at the wrong pressure - or, worse still, not lifting at all - may have similar consequences.
Ultrasound - a completely non-invasive technology - can be used to detect valve activity, such as leakage or blockage, and can accurately check a valve whilst it's online. Properly seated valves are quiet, but a leaking valve produces a turbulent flow as the gas or liquid moves from high-pressure to low-pressure.
Generally speaking, a valve that is tightly shut off should not add to the background level of ultrasound. A passing valve, meanwhile, will not only sound different, but it'll also produce a significantly higher reading on the instrument.
Valve chatter (e.g. on compressors or engines) can be analysed further in PC software, while valve stems can be quickly tested for leaks to atmosphere. In addition, cavitation - a phenomenon that produces noise and vibration, as well as pipe or valve damage - can be identified early so as to reduce or eliminate its effects.
Estimating valve leakage, however, can be difficult, but by no means impossible. There are many variables that affect the turbulence generated, but if these variables can be reduced, then it is possible to quantify the leak on a simple severity scale.
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Please contact us with questions,
or for more information |
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