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Focus Manutenzione e valvole per impianti industriali Focus Manutenzione e valvole per impianti industriali INFORMAZIONE PUBBLICITARIA

TC2 thods of valve design and testing. Researchers have pro- The importance of having qualified inspectors is a priori-
ven that old valves are the most problematic, as they were
ty for companies like TC2, whose role is to evaluate the
environmental impact and quality compliance of industrial
manufactured before modern emissions test knowledge.
plants. Certifications are led by professionals who have
The relevance of standard The relevance of standard valve design knowledge of both law standards and design of compo-
nents. TC2 in particular has the expertise to follow the
Controlling fugitive leaks translates to minimizing the po-
whole certification course, working with companies on
tential for leaks and it is possible only by applying proper
design and material-selection standards and, moreover,
compliance.
valve design installation, use and maintenance must follow the manu- The process to obtain certifications that meet International
Standards and Regulations has different steps that might
facturer’s specifications. Moreover, traceability quickly be-
be managed and supervised by companies like TC2, offe-
came a relevant topic among manufacturers, to prevent
errors and reduce risk on safety matters. Once the valve
has passed the testing process, serial numbers are applied ring the following support and services.
1) Technical support in choosing the components, pro-
to it and registered. ducts that have to be tested along with the right parame-
During the past decades, the valve design process has ters to validate as a sample, in order to have a full coverage
been standardized, using a method that assures each pro- of the whole production process.
duced valve meets International Standards of its industry. It 2) Debug of the testing procedures for the Certification,
is much easier to start with a design that is already built for according to the International Standards regarding testing
fugitive emission requirements, than to update an existing that may apply.
design to fit. 3) Assistance in the testing execution, that could be led by
80% of the leakage from industrial valves is associated the Manufacturer or third-party Laboratories in charge, to
with the valve stem or valve stem seals since the seals for make sure that Standards and Regulations are complied.
the valve stem are dynamic. In fact what leads to a leaka- 4) Validation of the results from the fugitive emission testing
ge from the valve is the constant movement of the stem and verification of the efficiency and completeness of the
upward and downward, temperature fluctuation, which can documentation produced.
lead to expansion or shrinkage of the valve components, or 5) Release of the conformity certification according to TA-
even packing damage caused by particles in the fluid. The Luft Regulations or ISO 15848-1 when related to Fugitive
type of fluid affects the amount of leakage from the stem Emission certification.
packing and typically, 6) Evaluation of the Certification renewal if regulations or
gasses have a higher standards are updated.
tendency to escape from
the stem packing than do Long-term control and maintenance
liquids. Proper packing To achieve effective and long-term control of fugitive emis-
and stem design should sions is it necessary to apply and use the best available
be considered to achie- technology and standards, including the development of
ve a low emission valve, non-standard monitoring programs, operating procedures,
following parameters like and performance objectives for controlling fugitive emis-
packing type, material sions. Manual monitoring is a time-consuming process,
selection, internal and with a portable detecting instrument. An alternative and
external diameter dimen- more effective way to detect fugitive emissions at an earlier
sions, tolerances. stage before they become critical is to use sensors with an
Valve types can be divi- automatic, electrical data logger to save time and improve
ded into two broad ca- accuracy.
tegories: rising or rising-rotating stems and quarter-turn Fugitive emissions from the valve stem or other joints due
(part-turn) stems. Rising or rising-rotating stem designs, to malfunction and damage requires quick maintenance to
mostly used in refineries, are considered the most suscep- repair. Leaking components should be repaired as soon
tible to stem leakage, since the stem is exposed to the ser- as possible and the cost of maintenance includes spen-
vice fluid and then drawn through the packing during the ding extra money for personnel and the cost of replacing
valve operation. Quarter-turn valves are often considered or repairing the damaged part. If the leak is not detected,
significantly less susceptible to stem leakage due to the the cost of maintenance could increase over time. On a
service fluid not being drawn through the packing during cultural side of the organization therefore, it is suggested
the valve operation. to work on corporate commitment to the implementation
and maintenance of a directed inspection & maintenance
Certification and compliance: how to proceed (DI&M) program to detect and prevent leaks.
Many end users are unaware of the differences between In the industry, particularly engineer and valve manufactu-
Regulations and Standards, and request fugitive emission rers, have a professional and personal responsibility to pro-
tests that may not even be applicable to the application at tect the environment. Air and water quality, life and ecology
hand. Consultancy companies are key partners when it co- are important factors that need to be taken into account to
mes to compliance. TC2 and its Technical Consultancy unit improve the performance of products and processes.
work in conformity verification of valves, using standards
like Ta-Luft and Fugitive Emission standards. www.tc2group.it

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