Low torque 4" ball valves?
Low torque 4" ball valves?
(OP)
Hello,
I am searching for 4" 1/4 turn 600lb flanged (1440 psi) ball valve that can be opened and closed by hand. We have used Balon ball valves with great success for our 2" and 3" applications, but the torque on a 4" Balon is too much for one person to operate with one hand. Handle length is limited to about 2 feet. We use Balon ratchet-turn ball valves in some applications, but for this it is not fast enough. We need an operator to stand at a manifold and simultaneously open one valve with one hand, while closing the other valve with the other hand. The whole operation must take less than about 2 or 3 seconds. We tried SRI valves, which have a much lower operating torque, but their reliability is unsatisfactory and we have difficulty successfully redressing them.
Mapegaz valves supposedly have worse reliability than SRI.
For those that know what I am talking about, I am a well tester, and I need 4" oil manifold valves that won't fail in the first year or two. We need to operate fast enough for the combined meter factor.
Fluid type is well effluent: oil, gas, water, brine, acid, H2S, CO2, sand, you name it. Must be NACE 0175. Must seal at low pressures and high. Also tolerate extended periods rigged down and open to the air.
We are currently spending $2000 each for our SRI valves. We would be searching for a similar price range.
Anyone know of such a valve?
I am searching for 4" 1/4 turn 600lb flanged (1440 psi) ball valve that can be opened and closed by hand. We have used Balon ball valves with great success for our 2" and 3" applications, but the torque on a 4" Balon is too much for one person to operate with one hand. Handle length is limited to about 2 feet. We use Balon ratchet-turn ball valves in some applications, but for this it is not fast enough. We need an operator to stand at a manifold and simultaneously open one valve with one hand, while closing the other valve with the other hand. The whole operation must take less than about 2 or 3 seconds. We tried SRI valves, which have a much lower operating torque, but their reliability is unsatisfactory and we have difficulty successfully redressing them.
Mapegaz valves supposedly have worse reliability than SRI.
For those that know what I am talking about, I am a well tester, and I need 4" oil manifold valves that won't fail in the first year or two. We need to operate fast enough for the combined meter factor.
Fluid type is well effluent: oil, gas, water, brine, acid, H2S, CO2, sand, you name it. Must be NACE 0175. Must seal at low pressures and high. Also tolerate extended periods rigged down and open to the air.
We are currently spending $2000 each for our SRI valves. We would be searching for a similar price range.
Anyone know of such a valve?





RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
I think the small Balon valves are floating ball, and with a few hundred psi dP floating ball valves become very difficult to start to open (although they move easily as some of the dP gets off of them).
David Simpson, PE
MuleShoe Engineering
www.muleshoe-eng.com
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.
The Plural of "anecdote" is not "data"
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
These have a much lower torque than ball valves and are quite suited to your operation.
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
Hope this helps.
saxon
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
About triple-offset butterflies, maybe the following links can be useful for your information, just to see some images of this type of valves:
* http://www.vanessavalves.it/
* http://www.fc-x.com/orton/
* http://www.tomoeeurope.com/products.cfm
* http://www.velan.com/products/catalogs/bf.htm
Best regards, 'NGL
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
YOU SAID YOU HAVE TRIED SRI VALVES. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR U TO TELL ME MORE DETAILS ABOUT THAT VALVE MFR.
THANKS
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
We'd prefer not to use air actuators as most of our manifolds are used in a portable/temperary fashion and the actuators would take longer to rig up/down and pose their own maintenance issues.
Thank you all very much for you help. I will check out the Velan and PVB valves. We will use actuators if completelly necessary.
Chris.
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
I regard API 6D NACE ball valves as generic. Servicibility issues exist. Cameron is a well known and make a welded body valve that some regard as prefered. See if the fluid requirements dictate other special metalurgical or elastomeric issues.
Contact the many suppliers of API 6D ball valves about the torque. The actuator suppliers may already have the data. Start with Bettis (they may be marked as Emerson these days). I would think that you could get a fast opening 4-inch ball valve with teflon elastomeric components. I am less certain about $2000 for the NACE valve.
Actuators are another costly factor, expecially if you include the installation details. The actuation could be totally pneumatic without electrical accessories. The valve automation houses can help with this too.
John
RE: Low torque 4" ball valves?
Balon does not offer a trunnion style valve, but looking at the KF Industries catalog, their 4" FP trunnion valve has an operating torque about 50% lower than their comparable floating ball valve. Trunnion valves typically cost a little more, but in larger sizes the higher cost for the valve is typically offset by the lower costs associated with automation of a low torque trunnion.