A metal seated ball valve offers superior sealing, reliability, and longevity compared to many other types of valves. Therefore, ball valves are a preferred option for many industrial applications. Slurry applications can be particularly harsh on valves, so it’s critical to choose the right valve for the job.
Some industries that may require severe service ball valves for slurry include:
- Paper production
- Mining
- Oil refining
- Petrochemical processing
Let’s discuss why you might choose a ball valve for your slurry application and what you need to know for a valve specialist to design a slurry valve that suits your needs.
Choosing a Metal Seated Ball Valve for Slurry Applications
Two of the most common types of valves you’ll find in slurry applications are ball valves and pinch valves. However, pinch valves have several limitations that may make them impractical for your application. For example, they may not do well in high temperature or high pressure applications. Therefore, a metal seated ball valve is often a better choice for severe service slurry applications.
Depending on the industry, slurry valves must resist many harsh conditions. They must withstand erosion from the solids in the slurry and often come in contact with corrosive liquids. Also, many applications require the valves to stand up to high temperatures and high pressures. Therefore, you need valves that are extra durable.
A metal seated ball valve offers the leak-tight seal you need while also resisting wear and tear for longer. This means reducing the risk of frequent failures and replacements and a longer lifecycle for your valve. Generally, you want to work with a valve specialist to customize the valve to your specific needs.
Designing Severe Service Ball Valves for Slurry Control and Isolation
When designing a ball valve for slurry or any other application, it’s important to know many details about the application. The valve specialist can then work with you to design a valve that suits your needs and specifications. The information you provide to the valve specialist will affect many different aspects of the valve design. The more you know about the applications and conditions, the better we can provide you with a tailor-made solution for slurry control and isolation.
For instance, many slurry applications require a forged ball valve instead of a cast ball valve for the added strength and durability in high temperature and pressure conditions. However, if you’re primarily working with ambient temperatures and low to medium pressures, you might be able to use a cast ball valve instead.
Some things you’ll need to know when designing a slurry ball valve include:
- Particle size
- Particle concentration
- Liquid type
- Particle material
- Temperatures
- Pressure conditions
- Cycle rates
This information all helps your valve specialist design the right valve for your needs and choose the right coatings to help increase the valve’s lifecycle even in harsh slurry control applications.
Valve Experts at Copeland Valve & Coating Technologies since 1940
When you need ball valves for severe and critical service applications, we offer superior design and manufacturing services. Our team proudly designs and manufactures all our ball valves right here in the U.S.A. to provide unparalleled quality. We manufacture our valves to strict tolerances to help improve valve performance and prevent lockups and frequent maintenance and cleaning. Our innovative valve coatings utilize the latest technology to provide more durable surfaces for valve reliability and longevity.
Whatever your valve needs, our team at Copeland Valve is here to help. Contact us now to talk to one of our experts about your valve needs and request a quote!