Valves, Valve Actuators and Valve Maintenance

Introduction

Valves are synonymous with just about every industry around the world. Having said that, anyone dealing with this type of equipment knows that there is a lot to learn, and many choices to be made. Of course, a special component or mechanism is also required to operate the valve, and it must have a source of energy. This is known as the actuator, and it takes this energy and converts it into mechanical motion, which is transferred through to the valve.  

This training course aims to take the mystery out of all aspects pertaining to valves and actuators, and to assist delegates in seamlessly going through all the important thought processes related to these devices, from selection to installation, and everything in between. At the end of the day, the valve and actuator must not be seen in isolation from the rest of the process, but as part of a greater loop, where they are expected to operate at optimal levels.

This training course will feature:

• The purpose, principle, and types of valves
• Actuator types, and other equipment associated with valves
• Valve and actuator combinations
• Valve and actuator maintenance, and taking a system from installation to operation
• Optimal material selection, specific to valves and actuators

Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Differentiating between the different types of valves available, and focusing on their advantages and disadvantages
• Developing a system, using the specific actuators that will provide the greatest benefit, based on their individual advantages and disadvantages
• Selecting the appropriate additional equipment (and, combinations of equipment, where necessary)
• Learning to take any installation from the specification and selection process, right through to installation and maintenance phases
• Sizing valves correctly, whilst identifying and gaining familiarity with ANSI / DIN pipe sizes and pressure ratings

Training Methodology

This is an interactive course. There will be open question and answer sessions, regular group exercises and activities, videos, case studies and presentations on best practice. Participants will have the opportunity to share with the facilitator and other participants on what works well and not so well for them, as well as work on issues from their own organizations.

Who Should Attend?

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Instrumentation technicians and engineers
• Process engineers
• Maintenance personnel (specifically, from those fields closely associated with the equipment)
• Supervisory personnel
• Mechanical engineers
• Design staff
• Representatives from the health and safety departments
• Engineers in other disciplines
• People from a financial background, who have an interest in cost containment, by using the most effective devices available
• Management and senior management staff

Course Outline

Day 1: Valve Basics - What happens inside the Valve from a Process Point of View, Valve Types and Associated Hardware?

• Valve purposes, principles, flow conditions and operation
• Signals, pressure drops, flow profiles and Reynolds numbers
• Cv, choked flow and flashing and cavitation
• The requirements, classification and selected associated hardware for valves and actuators
• The operation, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of an assortment of different types of valves, including cage, split-body, globe, needle, angled, y-styled, 3-way, pinch, gate (including slab gate and expending gate), choke, check (including rubber duck-bill, tilting disc & swing), single-vs double-seated, and balanced valves

Day 2: A Continuation of Valve Types, Associated Equipment and Characteristics

• The operation, as advantages and disadvantages of an assortment of different types of valves not covered on Day 1 (including butterfly, ball, rotary plug, diaphragm, ARV / ARC, Bellow sealed (both forged and welded), breathe / vacuum release, orbit, pressure seal, fixed cone and annular valves
• Miscellaneous equipment, closely associated with valves and actuators
• P&ID diagrams (using valves) and valve seat leakage rates
• Characteristics associated with valves
• Inherent versus installed characteristics

Day 3: Manual and Software Valve Sizing, Actuators and Positioners, Trims and Maintenance 

• Manually sizing a valve
• Sizing a valve, using software from manufacturers
• Actuators, bench setting and valve positioners
• Cavitation and noise trims and valve material selection
• Valve maintenance, fault finding, dead band and stiction

Day 4: Pressure Relief, SIS, Valve Action, Combinations, Terminology, Codes and Standards

• Pressure relief devices and the limitation of safety relief valves
• Valves associated with safety instrumented systems
• Valve action (fail safe), ANSI / DN pipe sizes and applicable pressure ratings
• Optimizing valve-actuator combinations for various applications, terminology used, and valve and actuator maintenance aspects and issues
• Codes and standards as well as piping & installation guidelines

Day 5: Using Control Valves in an Assortment of Control Strategies

• PID and loop tuning strategies
• Feedback, feed forward, cascade and ratio control
• Dealing with long dead times
• Non-linear control valve applications
• Valve control, using a specialized controller such as a PLC