How to handle a gate valve with packing leakage online?
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A gate valve with leaking packing, that still needs to be opened and closed every day. How to process it online? The medium is rich in gas and high in sulfur content. The process cannot be switched out; it can only be processed online. Injection molding?
In cases of high sulfur content, it is safer to perform plugging under pressure. In general, when we encounter such a situation, if the pressure and temperature are low and the gas is non-toxic, we usually open the gate valve fully and use the sealing action of its seal seat to quickly replace the packing.
I don’t dare to do this; what if something leaks out? . . . . . High concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, ah
The risk is high; first, the leaking packing must be removed and replaced with new one. Otherwise, if a new packing is placed directly on top of the old one, it depends on whether there is enough space, and even if there is, it’s not guaranteed that leakage will be prevented. Accidents are likely to occur if there’s a leak; it’s better to schedule maintenance at that time
If long-term operation is required without any shutdowns, it is recommended to carry out leak sealing under pressure (the clamps must be properly designed)
Valve packing leakage is a very common issue. The approach to dealing with such situations depends on a comprehensive analysis of the specific process conditions, the amount of leakage, and safety considerations; efforts should be made to avoid attempting to seal the leak while the valve is under pressure. Generally, the method of installing new packing online is considered first, though this depends on the specific circumstances.
I’ve learned it, thank you. But we’ve never tried this before
Try pressing the packing first; if that doesn’t work, it’s recommended to replace it after stopping the machine, as doing it while it’s running poses too much risk.