Are wrenches required to operate petrochemical valves? Urgent! Urgent! Urgent!
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In refineries, at our plant, valves are usually closed by hand, sometimes with a wrench, and in some cases even with a lever. I checked the guidelines regarding valve operation, and it seems that using a wrench is not allowed, right? Who knows if there are any regulations that explicitly specify whether wrenches can be used to close valves or not?
It’s best not to use it, as it affects the valve’s lifespan
I agree, but the boss is asking us to do this now. I’ve seen some information before that said it’s not allowed to use it, so I think it would be more convincing if we could find some official guidelines or regulations on this matter
Such places usually require a dual-valve system: the primary valve remains open at all times, while the second valve is used for control; in case of any problems, it is possible to immediately close the primary valve and replace the second one.
It is stipulated that they cannot be used, but there are some valves that cannot be opened even though they are supposed to be usable – there is a gap between theory and reality.
After a valve has been in use for a long time, it may become difficult to open. In areas within chemical plants where flammable and explosive substances are present, explosion-proof F-wrenches should be used. A wrench is essentially a tool that helps apply force; it’s necessary when opening a valve is difficult. If a valve is hard to open or cannot be closed properly, it may cause disruptions in production. In such cases, the lifespan of the valve is not the top priority – ensuring safe and stable operation is what matters most. However, one should not force the valve open, as this can have the opposite effect
There are no regulations prohibiting the use of a wrench to close valves; some valves, after being used for a long time, cannot be closed without a wrench.
In fact, it’s best for operators not to use wrenches for these tasks, but there are some valves that can only be opened and closed a few times per cycle – do you really expect to operate them by hand?
Without a wrench, I don’t think it’s possible to manage them properly; here we use power aids for those over 150, while those under 100 still can’t be opened by hand. Of course, some work fine, but the vast majority don’t.
The valves on the catalyst pipeline sometimes require repeated attempts, even with a wrench, to close them properly. With hands? Who can handle it? But then again, one shouldn’t use brute force with a wrench either. If the valve stem breaks, it’s a disaster