Gate Valve failure modes
Gate Valve failure modes
(OP)
My team has been tasked to look into a maintenance program for a computer center water cooling pump system (water -> valve1 -> centrifugal pump -> valve2 -> cooling system).
The system has two rising stem type gate valves and I need to be able to detail common failure modes and how these will be monitored. I don't have any more information than that sadly (good ol' management), and I'm a bit of a novice in relation to valves.
I'm certainly not asking for the full solution, you guys probably have a lot of work to do, but any terms/concepts to research further would be highly appreciated.
The system has two rising stem type gate valves and I need to be able to detail common failure modes and how these will be monitored. I don't have any more information than that sadly (good ol' management), and I'm a bit of a novice in relation to valves.
I'm certainly not asking for the full solution, you guys probably have a lot of work to do, but any terms/concepts to research further would be highly appreciated.





RE: Gate Valve failure modes
(2) Packing in gate valves wears rapidly if the valve is actuated much...you're dragging the full line diameter of the stem through the packing and putting a lot of miles on it. Again-how much leakage can you tolerate before the situation needs to be remediated.
(3) protect them from freezing. Freezing will burst the bonnet and the valve will be destroyed and everything nearby will be flooded.
RE: Gate Valve failure modes
Are you considering the actuator and accessories as part of the valve, or separately?
A gate valve that has been closed for a while may also "stick" when you try to open it. Maybe due to some corrosion.
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RE: Gate Valve failure modes
[*I've been staring at valve drawings on and off all day...you'd think the word would just come to me!]
Patricia Lougheed
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RE: Gate Valve failure modes
jt
RE: Gate Valve failure modes
For the curious; the water is clean and is cycled around the system. The valves are steel, and are left open until they are needed to close for maintenance.
cheers,
G
RE: Gate Valve failure modes
Gate valves leak internally, leak externally, stick open, stick shut, and get fouled by crud that's not supposed to be there, including pieces of the valve itself. Their only virtue is that they're 'cheap'.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA