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Ball valve features

BLOW OUT PROOF STEM
A blow-out proof stem feature, ensures that the top graphite packing rings can be
replaced while the valve is under pressure, without the stem being pushed out

Ball Valves
Trunnion Ball Valves
Gate Valves

(blown out)

Globe Valves

When the valve is in the open / closed position, pressure is always acting upon

Swing Check Valves

the bottom of the stem, trying to push the stem up.

Dual Plate Check Valves

The stem is sealed by o-rings and graphite packing rings.

Double Block & Bleed Valves

The stem is held in position by the stem housing, which is bolted to the body.

API 6A Valves

The graphite packing rings are compressed and held in position by the bottom
gearbox / gland flange, which is bolted to the stem housing.
Therefore, when the bottom gearbox / gland flange is removed to replace the

Cryogenic Valves
Actuated Valves

graphite packing rings, the stem is still held securely, by the stem housing.

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Reference List
ANTISTATIC DEVICE

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Location Map

An anti static feature, provides a system to ensure that static energy does not
build up in the valve.
Static energy is very dangerous in the oil and gas industry.
Static energy can build up in a soft seated, trunnion mounted ball valve, due to
the friction caused between the flowing oil / gas and the inside of the valve.
The static energy can build up in the ball, because the soft seats and the o-rings
/ PTFE bearing on the stem / trunnion, insulate the ball from the body.
So, if an anti-static device is not used, a small spark between the stem / trunnion
and the ball, caused by opening / closing of the valve, could ignite the oil / gas,
causing an explosion.
The trunnion is permanently in contact with the body, due to the trunnion bolts.
Therefore, due to the spring, trunnion and trunnion bolts, static energy can not
build up.

STEM & SEAL INJECTION

The stem / seal injection feature, provides a system of sealing worn out o-rings
and ball seals.
During the service life of a valve, the seals and o-rings can become worn out,
causing leakage at the stem and at the ball seal when the valve is closed.
To increase the service life of a valve, before a major re- build is necessary, it is
possible to stop this leakage at the stem and the ball.
This leakage is stopped, or at least slowed down, by injecting a mineral based
sealant, through the stem / seal injectors.

This sealant flows through the injector ports and channels until it reaches the orings of the stem/seal housing and the ball/seal face
The high pressure sealant gun forces the sealent into the damaged areas of the
o-rings.
The internal line pressure forces the sealent into the damaged areas of the ball
seals.

DOUBLE BLOCK & BLEED

A double block and bleed feature, allows for the ball cavity to be drained for
sampling, while the valve is in the closed position and still under pressure.
Due to the upstream / down stream pressure, the seal housings are pushed
against the ball, causing a pressure tight seal.
When the ball cavity bleed valve is opened, to relieve the ball cavity pressure, the
pressure on the seal housings are increased, causing an even greater pressure
tight seal.
Due to this pressure tight seal on the upstream / down stream side, it is safe to
open the drain plug in order to take samples, clean out the ball cavity of hydro
carbon debris as well as test the conditions of the ball seal / o-rings.
This sealant flows through the injector ports and channels until it reaches the orings of the stem/seal housing and the ball/seal face

FIRE SAFE DESIGN

A fire-safe design, ensures that when a valve is in close proximity of a fire, with a
temperature not exceeding 750C, the leakage through the closed valve and the
external seals, do not exceed the leakage rates as stated in API 607 / API 6FA.
A 3 piece, trunnion mounted ball valve, can leak internally

through the seal

housing / ball and seal housing / body interfaces.

The valve can also leak externally, through the stem / stem housing and stem
housing / body interfaces, the trunnion / body interface, and the 2 end flanges /
body interfaces.
When the temperature of the valve reaches approximately 200C, the o-rings,
stem thrust washer and ball seals start to melt.
All o-ring leakage paths have a graphite gasket, to restrict the oil / gas flowing to
the atmosphere.
The melting point of the graphite gaskets are 1000C
To further reduce the leakage to atmosphere, all graphite gaskets are backed up
with a metal to metal sealing face, due to the close accuracy / fine finish of the
machining process.
The stem also has a metal to metal seal against the stem housing , when the
stem PTFE thrust washer melts. The stem is pushed upwards by the line
pressure.
To reduce the leakage through the seal housing / ball interface, the seal housing
is machined with an angle, which makes a metal to metal seal with the ball,
when the seal housing is pushed against the ball, by the line pressure.

SINGLE PISTON EFFECT

A single piston effect feature, provides a system to ensure that the ball cavity
does not become over pressured.
A ball valve has to be designed very carefully, so that any internal pressure build
up in the ball cavity, can be relieved.
Pressure in the ball cavity can build up, due to the expansion of the oil / gas
caused by excess heat on the outside.
This excess heat can be due to the sun, or by a fire nearby.
A "single piston effect" pressure relieving system is designed into the valve, so
that pressure is released internally, into the down-stream side of the pipeline.
This pressure relieving system, is based upon the "piston action of the seal
housing.

housing.
The seal housings are free to move, by a few millimeters, in an upstream /
downstream direction.
The seal housings are sealed to the body by o-rings, and to the ball by the PTFE
/ NYLON / PEEK seals.

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