Cleaning and lubrication of valves

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The purpose of maintenance during valve operation is to ensure that the valve remains clean, properly lubricated, has all its components in place, and functions properly throughout the year. I. Cleaning of valves The surface of the valve, the trapezoidal threads of the valve stem and the valve stem nut, the areas where the valve stem nut slides against the supports, as well as components such as gears, worm gears, and worms, are prone to accumulating dust, oil stains, and residues from the medium used – all of which can cause wear and corrosion on the valve. Therefore, it is clearly very important to keep the outside of the valve and its moving parts clean in order to preserve the integrity of the valve’s paint. II. Lubrication of Valves Good lubrication is necessary for the trapezoidal threads of valves, the areas where the valve stem nuts slide against the supports, the bearing parts, the mating surfaces of gears and worm gears, as well as other moving parts that come into contact with each other. This helps to reduce friction between these parts and prevent wear. Some parts are equipped with dedicated oil cups or oil nozzles; if these become damaged or lost during operation, they should be repaired and replaced, and the oil pathways must be kept unobstructed. The lubricated parts should be refueled regularly according to specific conditions. Precautions for valve lubrication: 1. Valves that are opened frequently and operate in high temperatures should have their lubricant refilled every week to one month. 2 Valves that are not opened frequently and are not at high temperatures can have a longer refueling interval. Lubricants include machine oil, butter, molybdenum disulfide, and graphite, among others. 3. High-temperature valves are not suitable for use with machine oil or butter, as they will melt due to the high temperatures and thus be lost; instead, molybdenum disulfide should be injected along with graphite powder. 4. For exposed parts that require lubrication, such as trapezoidal threads and gears, using greases like butter can lead to dust accumulation, whereas lubrication with molybdenum disulfide and graphite powder reduces the risk of dust buildup and provides a better lubricating effect than butter. 5. Graphite powder is not easy to apply directly; it can be mixed with a little machine oil or water to form a paste for use. 6. Plug valves with oil-sealed mechanisms should be lubricated at regular intervals; otherwise, they are prone to wear and leakage.