Why is the quality of valves so important?
As an important device for controlling fluids in industrial systems, valves’ quality is directly related to the safety and efficiency of equipment operation. Whether in petrochemical industry, natural gas transportation, electricity production, or in livelihood projects such as water supply and drainage, valves play a vital role. However, once valve quality problems occur, they often cause serious economic losses and safety accidents. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure the high quality of valves.
BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill (2010)
On April 20, 2010, an explosion occurred on BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in the worst offshore crude oil spill in history. One of the main reasons for this accident was that the safety valve (blowout preventer) on the drilling platform failed and failed to effectively close the wellhead, resulting in a large amount of crude oil leaking into the ocean. The accident killed 11 people and spilled approximately 78 million liters of crude oil, covering more than 150,000 square kilometers of sea area. Ultimately, BP paid more than $65 billion in compensation and cleanup costs. This accident revealed the seriousness of valve quality problems. Once an accident occurs, its impact is not only limited to economic losses, but also has long-term negative impacts on the ecological environment and society.
Bolzano chemical plant accident in Italy (1976)
On July 10, 1976, a valve seal failed in a chemical plant in Bolzano, Italy, causing highly toxic dioxin compounds to leak into the air, causing widespread pollution. Because the quality of the valve’s sealing material was not up to standard, the seal failed and toxic gases leaked. The accident poisoned thousands of people, forced the evacuation of hundreds, and resulted in long-term soil and groundwater contamination. The accident once again proved that valve quality problems will not only cause direct property losses, but may also lead to serious public health crises.
These accidents highlight the seriousness of valve quality problems. When a valve fails, it will not only cause production stagnation and equipment damage, but may also cause major safety accidents and even threaten human life and the ecological environment.
Possible quality problems of valves and their consequences
Valve quality problems are diverse. Common problems include seal failure, valve stem breakage, improper material selection, and insufficient processing accuracy.
The following are several typical quality problems and their possible consequences:
Seal failure
The sealing performance of the valve is crucial and directly affects the safe transportation of the medium. Seal failure is usually caused by improper selection of sealing materials, poor manufacturing processes, or aging and wear of the valve after long-term use. Seal failure will lead to media leakage, which may lead to a decrease in production efficiency, or cause environmental pollution or safety accidents. For example, in the chemical industry, if toxic gases or liquids leak due to seal failure, it may lead to factory explosions or poisoning incidents.
Broken valve stem
The valve stem is the core transmission component of the valve, and its quality directly affects the opening and closing operation of the valve. If the valve stem material is improperly selected, or the manufacturing process is not subject to strict quality control, the valve stem may break under high pressure or frequent operations. A broken valve stem can cause the valve to lose control and become unable to close or open, causing system failure or an emergency. For example, in oil and gas pipelines, a broken valve stem can cause oil and gas to escape, causing a fire or explosion.
Improper material selection
The material selection of the valve is directly related to its corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance and pressure resistance. If the material is not selected properly, the valve may fail due to corrosion, oxidation or deformation during use. For example, when some valves are used in acidic media environments, if corrosion-resistant materials are not used, corrosion perforations may quickly occur, causing media leakage and even environmental pollution incidents.
Insufficient processing accuracy
The machining accuracy of the valve affects its sealing performance and service life. If the machining precision of valve parts is insufficient, it may lead to loose sealing, inflexible opening and closing, or increased component wear. For example, if the machining precision of a valve used in a high-pressure environment is insufficient and the seal pair cannot fit tightly, it may cause seal failure and eventually cause a leakage accident.
Casting defects
The casting process of the valve is critical. If defects such as pores, cracks or slag inclusions occur during the casting process, the valve may break due to insufficient structural strength during use. Valve rupture caused by casting defects will not only interrupt production, but may also cause serious safety incidents. For example, in high-temperature and high-pressure environments, cracks in the valve body may cause explosions and endanger the lives of operators.
Once these quality problems occur, the consequences will be catastrophic. Problems such as production stagnation, equipment damage, environmental pollution, and safety accidents will not only cause huge economic losses to enterprises, but may also lead to legal disputes and reputational damage.
Advantages of WESDOM’s high-quality valve products
When facing the risk of valve quality problems, choosing high-quality valve products is the key to avoiding accidents and losses. As an industry-leading valve manufacturer, WESDOM provides customers with reliable solutions with excellent product quality and strict quality control system.
WESDOM’s high-quality valve products can help customers solve the following problems:
Excellent sealing performance
WESDOM valve products use high-quality sealing materials, and undergo precise processing and strict quality testing to ensure the sealing performance of the valve under various working conditions. Whether in high temperature, high pressure or highly corrosive environments, WESDOM valves can provide stable and reliable sealing to avoid leakage and pollution accidents.
Rugged and durable stem design
WESDOM’s valve stem is made of high-strength materials and undergoes heat treatment and surface hardening to ensure its durability under high pressure and frequent operations. Whether it is manual operation or automatic control, the valve stem of the WESDOM valve can remain smooth and flexible, eliminating the risk of system loss of control due to valve stem breakage.
Strict material selection and quality control
WESDOM strictly follows industry standards in material selection, and uses special materials that are corrosion-resistant, high-temperature-resistant, and wear-resistant for different media and working conditions. Through advanced manufacturing processes and strict quality control, WESDOM valves have significant advantages in service life and reliability.
High-precision machining technology
WESDOM pays attention to every detail of the product, using precision CNC processing equipment and strict testing standards to ensure the processing accuracy of each component. High-precision machining technology enables the sealing pairs of WESDOM valves to perfectly match and provide long-term and stable sealing effects.
Defect-free casting process
WESDOM’s casting process has been optimized and improved for many years, using advanced casting technology to avoid common casting defects such as pores and cracks. Each casting undergoes strict non-destructive testing to ensure its structural strength and reliability, providing customers with safe and worry-free valve products.
The quality of valves is related to the safety, stability, and efficient operation of industrial systems. Once quality problems occur, the consequences may be catastrophic, including economic losses, environmental pollution, and casualties. By choosing WESDOM’s high-quality valve products, companies can effectively avoid these risks and ensure the safety and reliability of the system. WESDOM not only provides high-quality products but is also committed to solving customers’ worries and safeguarding industrial production. Choosing WESDOM means choosing a safe, reliable, and long-term partner.
