Borrowing best practices gives this gate valve an edge
The new forged Equiwedge Gate Valve incorporates two industry best practices into one design, says the manufacturer, to increase wall thicknesses found in critical areas of the valves (designed in accordance with U.S. standards) while still capitalizing on the reduced-weight benefits of equivalent European standards. This allows the valve to perform under difficult pressure and temperature conditions, such as those found in supercritical and ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plants — which can operate at 290 bars or 4,200 psig, and over 600°C or 1,100°F — while ensuring power plant productivity, safety and reliability. Single-piece body manufacturing helps to eliminate fabrication welds, which reduces the opportunity for welding-related failures. The valve features a split-wedge gate design, which improves operating reliability by minimizing thermal binding and stress on valve components, says the company. — Flowserve, Irving, Tex.