Understanding Sealing Surface Damage of industrial Valves

 
In industrial production and equipment operation, industrial valves serve as critical components for fluid control, undertaking the vital task of sealing. However, damage to valve sealing surfaces is a common issue encountered during valve usage. Understanding the reasons behind valve sealing surface damage is crucial to ensuring the normal operation and safety of equipment. Therefore, it is imperative to delve into the various potential causes of industrial valve sealing surface damage in order to take corresponding preventive and maintenance measures.
 
1. Mechanical Damage
 
During the opening and closing processes of valves, sealing surfaces may be damaged due to abrasion, impact, or compression. At high temperatures and pressures, atoms between sealing surfaces can permeate and cause adhesion. This adhesion makes the sealing surfaces more susceptible to damage during movement, especially when the surface roughness of the sealing surfaces is high, exacerbating this phenomenon. Bruising and compression often occur during the valve's closure process and valve disc seating, resulting in localized wear or indentation on the sealing surface.
 
2. Erosion by Medium
 
The movement of the medium may cause wear, flushing, or cavitation on the sealing surface. When the medium flows at a certain velocity, suspended particles in it may come into contact with the sealing surface, causing localized damage. High-speed movement of the medium directly flushes the sealing surface, also causing damage. Additionally, when the medium mixes and local vaporization occurs, the resulting bubble bursts impact the sealing surface, causing localized damage. The interaction between medium erosion and chemical corrosion can severely erode the sealing surface.
 
3. Electrochemical Erosion
 
Factors such as contact between sealing surfaces, sealing surface and closure body contact, as well as differences in medium concentration and oxygen concentration, may cause a potential difference, leading to electrochemical erosion and corrosion of the sealing surface on the anode side.
 
4. Chemical Corrosion of Medium
 
Even without current, the medium near the sealing surface may chemically interact with it, leading to corrosion of the sealing surface.
 
5. Improper Installation and Neglectful Maintenance
 
Improper installation or untimely maintenance of valves may result in the sealing surface failing to function properly, leading to valve damage.
 
6. Inappropriate Selection and Poor Operation
 
Failure to select the appropriate valve according to actual operating conditions, or mistakenly using shut-off valves as throttle valves, may lead to erosion and wear of the sealing surface.
 
In summary, the reasons for valve sealing surface damage are multifaceted, including mechanical damage, medium erosion, electrochemical erosion, and various other factors. These factors intertwine and collectively impact the lifespan and efficiency of valves. Therefore, when designing, selecting, installing, and maintaining valves, it is necessary to comprehensively consider various factors and take effective measures to prevent and alleviate sealing surface damage, ensuring the stable operation and safety of equipment.