【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Processing Equipment】The journey of domestic production of large fully-welded pipeline ball valves in China from 1983 to 2019

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The chemical processing industry has seen significant development over the past decade; may China continue to thrive and prosper. Wishing everyone a happy New Year, and may their families be safe and healthy. I hope this contribution will inspire further participation from others; with your involvement, Haichuan becomes even better. Everyone is welcome to join in the discussions on this forum. ********************************************** The localization of fully welded pipeline ball valves in our country began after the year 2000. In 2000, the first phase of the West-to-East Gas Pipeline Project was officially launched. In accordance with **Document No. “Jiguan [2000] 287” issued by the Machinery Industry Bureau, a conference on the localization of materials and equipment for the West-East Gas Pipeline Project was held in Beijing; valve manufacturers Shanghai Nales Jamesbury Valves Co., Ltd. and Zigong High-Pressure Valve Factory attended the conference. In 2002, Zigong High-Pressure Valve Factory obtained a government loan to introduce the technology and equipment for fully welded ball valves from Novellino in Italy, which is part of the American GE company. In 2003, fully welded ball valves were successfully developed on a trial basis, and they were supplied domestically. In 2003, Shanghai Nales Jamesbury Valve Co., Ltd. received a state bond loan of 5 million yuan. By leveraging the resource advantages available in Shanghai and adopting an approach that combined industry, academia, and research, the company succeeded in developing the NPS20 and Class600 fully welded ball valves on its own by 2005. It held exclusive intellectual property rights for these products and began supplying them domestically. In December 2007, the Second West-East Gas Pipeline was officially put into operation. CNPC held an international technical seminar on the bidding for fully welded large-scale pipeline ball valves in Beijing; renowned international suppliers, as well as domestic companies such as Shanghai Nales Jamesbury, Zigong High-Pressure Valve Co., Ltd., and Chengdu Chenggao Valve Co., Ltd., attended the meeting. On October 13, 2008, the China National Machinery Industry Federation, commissioned by the **Energy Administration, held a meeting in Beijing to discuss plans for local production of key equipment for the West-East Gas Pipeline Project Phase II, formulating plans for the local production of large fully welded ball valves of types NPS40, NPS48, Class600, and Class900. In April 2009, the **Energy Bureau held a meeting in Shenyang on the localization of key equipment for long-distance natural gas pipelines. The development of large fully welded pipeline ball valves of NPS40, NPS48, Class600, and Class900 has been officially approved. This project is of great significance for reducing the cost of the West-to-East Gas Transmission project, ensuring a secure supply of energy, and revitalizing the equipment manufacturing industry. In September 2009, the **Development and Reform Commission** and the **Energy Bureau** established a leadership group for the localization of key equipment for long-distance pipelines. On November 23, 2009, a launching and signing ceremony for the development of domestic key equipment for long-distance natural gas pipelines was held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. CNPC Group has signed technology development contracts with Shanghai Nales Jamesbury Valve Co., Ltd., Chengdu Chenggao Valve Co., Ltd., and Wuzhou Valve Co., Ltd. for 10 fully welded ball valves each of the NPS40 and NPS48, Class600, and Class900 types. On May 30, 2010, the three aforementioned companies completed the manufacturing of 30 large-diameter fully welded pipeline ball valves. From July 16 to 21, 2010, the **Energy Bureau held meetings in Shanghai Nales Jamesbury Valve Co., Ltd. (now Shanghai Electric Valve Co., Ltd.), Chengdu Chenggao Valve Co., Ltd., and Wuzhou Valve Co., Ltd., respectively, to conduct the exit inspection and acceptance tests for the contract products developed for large-scale, high-pressure, large-diameter fully welded ball valves.** The experts present agreed that it possesses advanced design technologies and processing equipment, a sound quality assurance system, and the capability to carry out mass production of high-pressure, large-diameter fully welded pipeline ball valves. This event marks the fact that three valve manufacturers in our country have now successfully developed fully welded ball valves of NPS40 and NPS48, Class600, and Class900. All of their technical specifications meet the requirements of the West-East Gas Pipeline main line, filling a gap in domestic production. These products have reached or are close to world-class standards, allowing for mass production. From July 16 to 20, 2015, fully welded ball valves with NPS40 and NPS48, Class600, and Class900, manufactured by 11 valve companies including Dalian Dagao Valve Co., Ltd., passed the prototype evaluation organized by the **Energy Bureau. In 2015, Shanghai Electric Valve Co., Ltd., Wuzhou Valve Co., Ltd., and Chenggao Valve Co., Ltd. jointly developed NPS56, Class 900 fully welded large-diameter ball valves. In October 2015, it passed the prototype evaluation organized by the **Energy Bureau, and industrial operation tests were carried out in Yandun, Xinjiang in May 2017. Subsequently, companies such as Shanghai High and Low Pressure Valve Co., Ltd. also completed the development of NPS56, Class 900 fully welded ball valves for pipelines, and these valves passed industrial operation tests. To date, the trial production and industrial operation tests of the spherical shell NPS56, Class 900 fully welded ball valves have been successful, with the products reaching an internationally leading level. In 2019, they were officially put into practical use in the eastern section of the China-Russia gas pipeline, as well as on Lines 4, 5, and 6 of the West-East Gas Transmission Project, marking the full localization of fully welded large-diameter pipeline ball valves.