Valves - when to repair or replace?

Starting with the smallest of solenoid-controlled valves, which are a relatively low-cost item, it would usually be beneficial to replace the valve with a new component which carries the manufacturer's warranty. Burkert solenoid valves are comprehensively tested and designed to cope with millions of operations, so rarely require replacement, even in tough operating conditions. Outside influences, beyond the design parameters of a system however occur more often than we would like to think. With some processes costing thousands of pounds per hour of downtime, a straight replacement can often be a default choice in this situation.

In contrast, large-scale butterfly and ball valves, which have seen little advance in design over the years, just in materials technology, would often see repairs carried out with many serviceable parts available. These tend to be used in applications dealing with dirty or aggressive media and the bodies can be worn down by the passage of abrasive particles. The larger the valve, often the more economic a repair can be.

Usually, valve seats, seals and stem seals are available as a service kit which provides a known maintenance cost for budgeting purposes. Aggressive materials can often perish soft seals and seat materials. Valves should be specified very carefully based on the medium they carry, but in many cases simple age can result in seals and seats requiring replacement in an otherwise perfectly healthy valve.

Potential downtime is a major issue and a distress situation, can affect the decision, as can issues of cleanliness and meeting "as new' material specifications; especially in food, aerospace or medical applications. Often valves used in hygienic applications have recommended service intervals which are dependent on their position within the manufacturing process. This planned maintenance schedule often prevents unwanted valve failures which can cause substantial production losses.

When it comes to process valves, the medium tends to be less aggressive, or at least more consistent. In this instance each component is replaceable, so valve seats and seals would be available as well as components for the pilot valves. In this case you would expect the valve body to remain serviceable, unless it has received physical damage, and then a replacement is usually the only option.

Modern design techniques

Upgrades are also a crucial aspect of the decision to repair or replace; it may be that a different type of valve can replace a series of older valves and therefore prevent the requirement for further replacements - Burkert's Robolux series is an example. This multi-way valve can potentially do away with more than one valve and several pipe sections and bends. Modern design techniques allow this valve to be customised to incorporate mixer and diverter valves, or to integrate sensors into the valve block. Crucially, the number of potential leak paths is greatly reduced and with the valve delivered pre-assembled, the installation time is also reduced.

Control is also a key decision, as the development of automation marches on, the repair or replacement of a valve might present an opportunity to increase the control and visibility of an application. There are products (Burkert control head) which can be applied to create an intelligent field device from an existing valve, providing information on status and allowing external actuation in an application that previously relied on pressure or manual actuation.

When assessing control valves, there can be strong benefits in upgrading equipment due to the new technology which is evolving in this area. Older systems can be upgraded to provide faster response times with the use of 4-20mA converters and also to provide diagnostic information on valve performance. This information can be very valuable when trying to pinpoint areas for concern and resolving performance issues.

The After Sales department at Burkert inspects any returned valves to help in understanding failure modes and so improve installation and reliability. However, many of these valves perform as required when tested; further investigation with the customer can help in determining any reduction in plant performance.

In many cases it transpires that the valve was incorrectly specified by the process design engineer - an issue which can be easily resolved in the future by asking for expert help from the valve manufacturer. A typical example is using the Kv value for a valve as the flow rating - a common mistake which does not take into account the differing pressures through the valve or the viscosity of the material under control. By making use of expert advice, production control systems can be designed to use the most efficient and appropriate equipment to ensure reliable performance.

Integrating new technologies

There are cases where Burkert has received a 25-year-old valve returned for its first service, but unfortunately the parts may no longer be available. In such cases, the company would look at the application and the process as a whole and make suggestions as to the most efficient way forward. This could include integrating new technologies and reducing the total number of valves in the process. Each case is different, and Burkert's engineers have the expertise to understand the requirements of each client and to give advice on the best course of action.

The bottom line is that prevention is better than cure. Good maintenance practice and ensuring that the control devices are providing reliable efficient service is crucial. Replacement of valves may entail higher initial costs; however, additional benefits such as increased diagnostic and communication ability as well as product warranty, all lead to improved productivity in the long term. Where possible, consult with expert engineers, whose experience can be used to benefit the design and operation of the control system.

Process control technology has made huge advances in recent years and when an opportunity arises to assess a production system with a view to upgrading, operations managers should consider their options carefully. Burkert has experience of process control systems across the world and that expertise can be used to help all customers ensure that their application is designed, installed and operated in the most efficient and reliable manner possible.

Further information and advice regarding repairing or replacing process, pilot and actuation valves is available by emailing Burkert at [email protected], or by visiting the website at www.burkert.co.uk.