Expert Tips For Installing Position Of Slab Gate Valves

What Is a Slab Gate Valve?

The slab gate valve is different from other knife gate valve. It is a full-bore closing member with a parallel gate. Its structure is designed to be full-bore. When it is opened, it will not hinder the liquid in the pipeline, thereby having no effect on the pressure drop of the liquid in the pipeline. It is generally used in long-distance oil, natural gas and other pipeline systems.

Installation Position of The Slab Gate Valve

Due to its large size and the considerable space required for operation, it is essential to understand the installation requirements and location of the slab gate valve to ensure it performs at its best. Therefore, this article will focus on the installation location requirements of the slab gate valve and the locations where it cannot be installed, allowing us to fully understand the installation of the slab gate valve.

1. The Slab Gate Valve installed at the position where it can play its function, controlling the flow of liquid in the pipeline and realizing the opening and closing of the pipeline. This requires them to be installed at the position where there is a flow switch control on the pipeline, such as pipeline branch ports, inlets and outlets, pump station inlets, wellheads in oil pipelines, and pressure relief or discharge outlets. The full-diameter characteristics of the slab gate valve can be used to open and close the entire pipeline without affecting the changes in the liquid pressure in the pipeline.
2. The Slab Gate Valve installed in a convenient position for operation. Because the slab gate valve is generally used for long-distance oil or natural gas pipeline transmission, the pipe diameter is generally large, and the operating space of the slab gate valve is relatively large. Therefore, when installing, we need to consider the operating space of the later operators to facilitate the operators to open and close the valve and perform other operations.
3. The Slab Gate Valve installed in a position that is convenient for later inspection and maintenance, so as to facilitate the replacement of the vulnerable parts of the valve, such as the replacement of the sealing ring. At the same time, we also need to perform necessary maintenance and cleaning on the valve, lubricate the easily worn parts, and ensure the sealing of the valve. If the installation position is too narrow or in a place that is difficult for operators to reach, it will not only increase the difficulty of later maintenance and reduce the performance of the valve, but also increase safety hazards and reduce the overall efficiency of the pipeline. Therefore, during installation, you must carefully read the manufacturer's installation guide and install it according to the requirements to ensure the normal use and necessary maintenance of the slab gate valve.
4. The Slab Gate Valve must also be installed in a safe area. Safety is an important part of production and operation. Because the slab gate valve is generally large in size, the valve is usually closed by operating the valve stem. Therefore, during installation, it is necessary to consider the space for subsequent operations and the safety of the operator's environment during operation to reduce safety hazards when operating the valve.
5. The Slab Gate Valve cannot be installed in a position with precise flow control. The slab gate valve has a simple structure and the closing of the gate valve is achieved by the parallel gate valve in the middle. It is generally only suitable for fully open or fully closed pipelines. It cannot control the flow rate of the fluid in the pipeline through the valve. In the half-open or half-closed state, the fluid in the pipeline will impact the valve core, causing wear of the valve and reducing the sealing of the valve. Therefore, the slab gate valve is only suitable for fully open or fully closed pipelines and cannot be installed in a position with precise flow control.
6. The Slab Gate Valve cannot be installed in corrosive fluid pipelines, because the sealing of the valve mainly relies on the parallel gate plate and the seals between the gate plate and the valve seat to achieve sealing. If installed in a corrosive fluid pipeline, when the corrosive fluid passes through the gate valve, it will continuously corrode the seals, causing the gate valve to be unable to be completely sealed, resulting in the risk of leakage. If it is in a petrochemical pipeline, this leakage risk is not allowed and will cause serious safety hazards. Therefore, ensure that the slab gate valveis not installed on a corrosive fluid pipeline.
7. The Slab Gate Valve cannot be installed in positions that are frequently opened and closed. The working principle of slab gate valves is simple, and the structure is designed to be full-diameter. This is mainly to ensure that the channel can remain smooth and straight when the pipeline system is fully open, reduce the flow resistance coefficient of the fluid, reduce pressure loss, and ensure the pressure of the liquid during long-distance transmission. Therefore, they are mainly to ensure that the pipeline can be fully opened or fully closed, rather than frequently opened or closed. This not only increases the complexity of operation, but may also cause excessive wear on the gate valve and reduce its sealing performance. Therefore, slab gate valves generally cannot be installed in positions that are frequently opened and closed.

Conclusion

No matter what kind of gate valve, it has its own characteristics and requirements. The full-diameter design of the slab gate valve effectively reduces the flow resistance coefficient and reduces the pressure drop. It is widely used in long-distance steam or oil transportation. Its correct installation can not only maximize its performance and extend its service life, but also reduce safety hazards during use.

FAQS

Q: In which media pipelines are slab gate valves suitable? A: slab gate valves are generally suitable for long-distance transportation of media such as water, natural gas and oil.   Q: Can the slab gate valve be installed on a vertical pipeline? A: It is generally recommended that the slab gate valve be installed on a horizontal pipeline. On the one hand, it is convenient for operation and subsequent maintenance. On the other hand, horizontal installation can also reduce the wear of the pipeline fluid on the valve plate and extend the service life. However, the slab gate valve can also be installed on a vertical pipeline, but when installing on a vertical pipeline, pay attention to choosing the appropriate model, as well as the installation location and requirements.   Q: How to maintain and service the slab gate valve? A: The slab gate valve should be checked regularly to ensure that all parts are working properly, and the valve stem, nut and other friction parts should be lubricated regularly to reduce wear. The seals should also be checked regularly to ensure that the seals are not aged or worn. If there is wear, they need to be replaced in time.   Q: What are the advantages of LIXIN's slab gate valve? A: LIXIN's slab gate valve adopts O-ring sealing and floating valve seat structure with preload to achieve bidirectional sealing, and the opening and closing torque is only 1/2 of that of ordinary valves, which can easily open and close the valve. The valve adopts a self-sealing valve packing structure that does not require frequent adjustment, and is extremely easy to open and close. The stuffing box is equipped with an auxiliary sealing grease injection structure, and the sealing performance is absolutely reliable, which can truly achieve zero leakage.