Double Block and Bleed Double Block and Bleed Systems

The primary function of a double block and bleed system is for isolation and the secondary function is for intervention. Under certain conditions double block and bleed systems are needed to prevent product contamination or where it is necessary to remove essential equipment from service for cleaning or repairs while the unit continues in operation.

Of course, such equipment must be provided with a spare or it must be possible to bypass it temporarily without shutting down the unit. The nature of the fluid, its pressure and temperature, and many other factors must be considered when determining the need for double block and bleed systems.

Generally, block Valves should be considered for the onstream isolation of equipment if the fluid is flammable or otherwise hazardous, or if the fluid is in high-pressure or high-temperature service. Where double block Valves are used, a NPS or larger bleed Valve should be installed between the block Valves. The purpose of the bleed Valve is twofold. First, the bleed ensures that the upstream Valve is in fact tight before slipping in a blind off the downstream block Valve. The bleed connection also permits the safe withdrawal of moderate leakage from the upstream Valve to again assure the tight shutoff of the downstream Valve.

Depending on the service conditions, it may be possible to use a single block Valve with a body bleed to provide double block and bleed provisions for onstream isolation of equipment. Gate Valves with flexible wedges and with body or Bonnet bleed Valve can serve this purpose if specifically tested in accordance with API-598 for double block and bleed quality Valves. Some Ball Valves and nonlubricated Plug Valves, when equipped with a Valve body bleed between the seats, can also be satisfactory substitutes for double block Valves. Testing for double block and bleed quality Valves requires the pressure-testing of each seat, with leakage measured through the Valve body bleed as a means of substantiating the independent leak tightness of both the upstream and downstream seats of the Valve.

Double Block and Bleed Valves

The Double Block and Bleed Valve or a DBBV can perform the tasks of 3 separate Valves (2 separate isolations and 1 drain Valve) which apart from being hugely space saving can also save on weight and time due to installation and maintenance practices requiring much less work and the operator being able to locate and operate all 3 Valves in one location.

Double block and bleed Valves operate on the principle that isolation can be achieved from both the upstream and downstream process flow / pressures. This is achieved by two ball, gate, globe, needle, etc. Valves placed back to back, with a third "isolatable" Valve in the centre cavity. Once isolation has been achieved in one or more of the main process isolation Valves, the cavity that is created between these isolations can be drained. This is useful for flow diverting, sampling or injection situations, and for maintenance and or integrity check situations where seat leakage can be monitored through the third "bleed" Valve.

The image on the left gives you a good impression, how a DBB Valve is constructed. In this image example, three balls are mounted. 2 large balls that serve as a block (both are closed), and the small ball serve as the bleed (ball is in open position).

Image comes from www.habonim.com. It is a DBB Valve in the dual-Safe series. For more information about Habonim click the PDF icon below.

Double Block & Bleed Valves

Isolation (Stop) Valves in Pressure-Relief Piping

The article below (text) comes from the American Petroleum Institute (API) Sizing, Selection, and Installation of Pressure-Relieving Devices in Refineries, Part II-Installation API recommended practice 520 fifth edition

Isolation (Stop) Valves in Pressure-Relief Piping

Isolation block Valves may be used for maintenance purposes to isolate a pressure-relief device from the equipment it protects or from its downstream disposal system. Since improper use of an isolation Valve may render a pressure-relief device inoperative, the design, installation, and administrative controls placed on these isolation block Valves should be carefully evaluated to ensure that plant safety is not compromised. A pressure-relief device shall not be used as a block Valve to provide positive isolation.

Inlet Isolation Valves a. Valves shall be full bore. ASME Section VIII Appendix M recommends the use of full area isolation (stop) Valves. Mandatory
paragraph UG-135 (b)(1), of ASME Section VIII, requires that the opening through all pipe and fittings between a pressure vessel and its pressure-Relief Valve shall have the area of the pressure-relief device inlet. It is therefore recommended that the minimum flow area in the isolation Valve be equal to or greater than the inlet area of the pressure-Relief Valve. The minimum flow area of the isolation Valve and the inlet area of the pressureRelief Valve can be obtained from the isolation Valve manufacturer and the pressure-Relief Valve manufacturer.

b. Valves shall be suitable for the line service classification.

c. Valves shall have the capability of being locked or carsealed open. d. When Gate Valves are used, they should be installed with stems oriented horizontally or, if this is not feasible, the stem could be
oriented downward to a maximum of 45 from the horizontal to keep the gate from falling off and blocking the flow.

e. A bleed Valve should be installed between the isolation Valve and the pressure-relief device to enable the system to be safely
depressurized prior to performing maintenance. This bleed Valve can also be used to prevent pressure build-up between the pressure-relief device and the closed outlet isolation Valve.

f. Consideration should be given to using an

sequencing.

interlocking system between the inlet and outlet isolation Valves to assist with proper

g. Consideration should be given to painting the isolation Valve a special color or providing other identification. When placing

the

pressure-relief device into service, it is recommended to gradually open the isolation Valve. This ramping up of system pressure can help prevent unwanted opening of a Valve seat due to the momentum of the fluid. The inlet Valve must be open fully.

Outlet Isolation Valves a. Valves shall be full bore. ASME Section VIII Appendix M recommends the use of full area isolation (stop) Valves. To help
minimize the built-up back pressure, it is recommended that the minimum flow area in the outlet isolation Valve be equal to or greater than the outlet area of the pressure-Relief Valve. The minimum flow area of the outlet isolation Valve and the outlet area of the pressure-Relief Valve can be obtained from the isolation Valve manufacturer and the pressure-Relief Valve manufacturer respectively.

b. Valves shall be suitable for line service classification. c. Valves shall have the capability of being locked or carsealed open. This outlet isolation shall never be closed while the vessel is in
operation without using an inlet isolation Valve that has first been closed with the space between the inlet isolation Valve and the pressure-Relief Valve adequately depressured.

d. A bleed Valve should be installed between the outlet isolation Valve and pressure-relief device to enable the system to be safely
depressurized prior to performing maintenance. This bleed Valve can also be used to prevent pressure build-up between the pressure-relief device and the closed outlet isolation Valve.

e. Consideration should be given to using an interlocking system between the inlet and outlet isolation Valves to assist with proper
sequencing.

f. Consideration should be given to painting the isolation Valve a special color or providing other identification. When the outlet
isolation Valve is used in conjunction with an inlet isolation Valve, upon commissioning the pressurerelief device, the outlet isolation Valve shall be opened fully prior to the inlet isolation Valves.

Globe Valves
A Globe Valves is a linear motion Valve and are primarily designed to stop, start and regulate flow. The disk of a Globe Valve can be totally removed from the flowpath or it can completely close the flowpath.

The fundamental principle of the Globe Valve operation is the perpendicular motion of the disk away from the seat. This ensures that the ring-shaped space between the disk and seat ring gradually close as the Valve is closed. This property gives a Globe Valve reasonably good throttling capability. Therefore, the Globe Valve can be used for starting and stopping flow and to regulate flow.

Advantages of using Globe Valves:

Good shutoff capability Reasonably good throttling capability

The major drawbacks to the use of a Globe Valve are:

Higher pressure drop compared to a Gate Valve Large Valve sizes require considerable power or a larger actuator to operate

Body designs of Globe Valves

There are three primary body designs for Globe Valves, namely: Z-body, Y-body and Angle body.

Z-body design is the most common body type, with a Z-shaped diaphragm. The horizontal setting of the seat
allows the stem and disk to travel perpendicular to the horizontal line.

Y-body design is an alternative for the high pressure drop, inherent in Globe Valves. Seat and stem are
angled at approximately 45 degrees, what gives a straighter flowpath at full opening.

Angle-body design is a modification of the basic Z-type Globe Valve. The ends of this Globe Valve are at an
angle of 90 degrees, and fluid flow occurs with a single 90 degrees turn.

Disks of a Globe Valve

The most common disk designs for Globe Valves are: ball disk, composition disk and the plug disk.

Ball disk design is used primarily in low pressure and low temperature systems. It is capable of throttling flow, but in principle it is applied to stop and start flow.

Composition disk design uses a hard, non-metallic insert ring on the disk, which ensures a tighter closure.

Plug disk design provides better throttling than ball or composition designs. They are available in many different designs and they are all long and tapered.

Stem and Disk connections of a Globe Valve

Globe Valves uses two methods for connecting the disk and the stem: the T-slot and the disk nut construction. In the T-slot design, the disk slides over the stem, while in the disk nut design, the disk is screwed into the stem.

Seats of Globe Valves

Globe Valve seats are either integrated or screwed in to the Valve body. Many Globe Valves have backseats inside the Bonnet. Back seats provides a seal between the stem and Bonnet and prevents system pressure from building against the Valve pakking, when the Valve is fully open. Back seats are often applied in Globe Valves.

Flow direction of Globe Valves

For applications with low temperature, Globe Valves are normally installed so that the pressure is under the disc. This contributes an easy operation and helps protect the packing.

For applications with high temperature steam service, Globe Valves are installed so that the pressure is above the disk. Otherwise, the stem will contract upon cooling and tend to lift the disk off the seat.

Ball Valves
A Ball Valve is a quarter-turn rotational motion Valve that uses a ball-shaped disk to stop or start flow. If the Valve is opened, the ball rotates to a point where the hole through the ball is in line with the Valve body inlet and outlet. If the Valve is closed, the ball is rotated so that the hole is perpendicular to the flow openings of the Valve body and the flow is stopped.

Advantages of using Ball Valves:

Quick quarter turn on-off operation Tight sealing with low torque Smaller in size than most other Valves

Disadvantages of Ball Valves:

Conventional Ball Valves have poor throttling properties In slurry or other applications, the suspended particles can settle and become trapped in body cavities causing wear, leakage, or Valve failure.

Types of Ball Valves

Ball Valves are basically available in three versions: full port, venturi port and reduced port. The full-port Valve has an internal diameter equal to the inner diameter of the pipe. Venturi and reduced-port versions generally are one pipe size smaller than the line size.

Ball Valves are manufactured in different body configurations and the most common are:

Top entry Ball Valves allow access to Valve internals for maintenance by removal of the Valve Bonnet-cover. It is not required to be removed Valve from the pipe system.

Split body Ball Valves consists of a two parts, where one part is smaller as the other. The ball is inserted in the larger body part, and the smaller body part is assembled by a bolted connection.

The Valve ends are available as butt welding, socket welding, flanged, threaded and others.

Materials of Balls and Seats

Balls are usually made of several metallics, while the seats are from soft materials like Teflon, Neoprene, and combinations of these materials. The use of soft-seat materials imparts excellent sealing ability. The disadvantage of soft-seat materials (elastomeric materials) is, that they are not can be used in high temperatures processes.

For example, fluorinated polymer seats can be used for service temperatures from 200 (and larger) to 230C and higher, while graphite seats may be used for temperatures from ? to 500C and higher.

Ball Valve Stem design

The stem in a Ball Valve is not attached to the ball. Usually it has a rectangular portion at the ball, and that fits into a slot cut into the ball. The enlargement permits rotation of the ball as the Valve is opened or closed.

Ball Valve Bonnet

The Bonnet of a Ball Valve is fastens to the body, which holds the stem assembly and ball in place. Adjustment of the Bonnet permits compression of the packing, which supplies the stem seal. Packing material for Ball Valve stems is usually Teflon or Teflon-filled or O-rings instead of packing.

Ball Valves applications

The following are some typical applications of Ball Valves:

Air, gaseous, and liquid applications Drains and vents in liquid, gaseous, and other fluid services Steam service

Check Valves
Check Valves are "automatic" Valves that open with forward flow and close with reverse flow. The pressure of the fluid passing through a system opens the Valve, while any reversal of flow will close the Valve. Exact operation will vary depending on the type of Check Valve mechanism. Most common types of Check Valves are swing, lift (piston and ball), butterfly, stop and tilting-disk.

Types of Check Valves

Swing Check Valve

A basic swing Check Valve consists of a Valve body, a Bonnet, and a disk that is connected to a hinge. The disk swings away from the Valve-seat to allow flow in the forward direction, and returns to Valve-seat when upstream flow is stopped, to prevent backflow. The disc in a swing type Check Valve is unguided as it fully opens or closes. There are many disk and seat designs available, in order to meet the requirements of different applications. The Valve allows full, unobstructed flow and automatically closes as pressure decreases. These Valves are fully closed when flow reaches zero, in order to prevent backflow. Turbulence and pressure drop in the Valve are very low.

Lift Check Valve

The seat design of a lift-Check Valve is similar to a Globe Valve. The disc is usually in the form of a piston or a ball. Lift Check Valves are particularly suitable for high-pressure service where velocity of flow is high. In lift Check Valves, the disc is precisely guided and fits perfectly into the dashpot. Lift Check Valves are suitable for installation in horizontal or vertical pipe-lines with upward flow. Flow to lift Check Valves must always enter below the seat. As the flow enters, the piston or ball is raised within guides from the seat by the pressure of the upward flow. When the flow stops or reverses, the piston or ball is forced onto the seat of the Valve by both the backflow and gravity.