Valves Section 7

STUFFING BOX AND SEALS

Most stem operated valves have their stem sealed by packing that is compressed between the
stem and bonnet. The area within which the packing is compressed is commonly called the
stuffing box or packing box. The packing is usually compressed by tightening a packing nut or
packing gland bolts. As shown in igure 7!"#$ various stuffing box arrangements are available.
Packing Nut without Gland
This arrangement includes an internally threaded packing nut that is screwed onto matching
external bonnet threads. The packing is compressed between the inside walls of the nut and the
top of the bonnet.
Packing Nut with Gland
%n this arrangement$ a gland is provided between the packing nut and the packing. The gland
absorbs the packing nut torsion$ thus preventing packing gall.
Bolted Gland
A gland$ gland flange$ and gland bolts with nuts are used in this arrangement. The packing is
compressed by tightening the nuts on the gland bolts. The mating surfaces on the gland and
flange are similar to a ball and socket &oint. This allows the flange to swivel if the nuts are
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A 0 ,acking 1ut without 2land
3 0 ,acking 1ut with 2land
4 0 3olted 2land
5 0 %n&ection Type
6 0 7antern Type
FIGURE 7-14 - STUFFING BOX AND
SEALS
Section 7 Valves
unevenly tightened on the gland bolts$ thereby maintaining uniform pressure on the gland and
packing.
Injection Type
%n this arrangement$ an in&ector fitting is provided on the valve bonnet. A passageway leads from
the fitting to the stuffing box area within the bonnet. The packing is replenished by in&ecting
plastic material through the in&ector fitting. The packing can thus be replenished while the valve is
open$ closed$ or being cycled. This feature is advantageous for valve applications entailing
considerable packing wear.
Lantern Type
The 7antern *ing is a spacer between rings of packing. 5uring fabrication$ it is relieved to
provide voids that act as cooling chambers or collect fluid that leaks past the lower packing rings.
7antern rings with an upper and lower set of packing are used in power plant valve stuffing boxes
where stem leakage detection is desirable in high pressure$ high temperature services. The
leakage is drained off through a leakoff fitting in the bonnet$ thus providing for essentially 8ero
leakage through the upper packing rings. 5uring system turnover$ valves should be checked to
determine if the packing is installed since suppliers may ship valves with the packing loose 9i.e.
uninstalled:.
VALVE TRIM
3ron8e trim is commonly used in valves intended for mild service$ such as water at moderate
temperatures and pressures. Stainless steel is used where increased strength$ durability$ and
corrosion resistance are re;uired. Type <"( stainless steel forgings conforming to ASTM A"=+
are suitable for many general service applications. Alternatively$ these parts may be machined
from type <"( bar stock conforming to ASTM A+7(. Severe service applications may re;uire
hardened grade (<> 9"7!#,.: wrought stainless steel trim conforming to ASTM A/(#.
Additional erosion and corrosion resistance for severe service applications can also be attained
by applying Stellite or 4olmonoy hard facing to the seating surfaces of grade <"( stainless steel
trim. These hard facings are patented alloys? Stellites being various compositions of tungsten and
chromium particles in a cobalt base$ and 4olmonoy being very hard crystals of chromium boride
in a nickel base. @here severe corrosive conditions are a prime consideration$ the trim may be
one or a combination of various nickel or cupronickel alloys known by trade names such as
.astelloy$ %nconel$ and Monel.
1on!standard trim such as Stellite can significantly increase the price and delivery time of valves
and re;uire special coordination with design engineering and procurement.
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Valves Section 7
Valve Operatr!
6xternally operated valves are opened$ closed$ or ad&usted by applying some type of force to the
stem. There are two basic types of operators for applying this force)
Manual
,owered
The simplest form of manual operator is the handwheel. 6lectric motors or solenoids$ or hydraulic
or pneumatic devices may be used on powered operators. Actuating devices for powered
operators are sometimes automatic$ such as for control valves$ and sometimes are manually
switched$ such as a push!button switch for an electric motor operated valve. ,ower operated
valves often also have a handwheel for emergency operation in case of a power failure.
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FIGURE 7-1" - MANUAL #AND$#EELS
Section 7 Valves
Man%al Operatr!
The handwheel is the most common means of operating smaller low pressure valves with a
rotating stem. %n the simplest form$ the force applied to the handwheel is transmitted directly to
the stem. The amount of manual power that would be re;uired to turn the handwheel on a large
high pressure valve makes this arrangement impractical for such applications. A variety of
manual operators as shown in igure 7!"(.
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FIGURE 7-1& - #AND$#EEL T'(ES
Valves Section 7
As shown in igure 7!"/$ wrenches or keys are sometimes supplied on small shutoff valves
having a removable operator as a safety feature. The operator must be placed on the stem to
open or close the valve$ and is then removed. .and levers are used to turn the stem on valves
that are fully opened or closed by one!;uarter or one!half turn. 6xamples of this arrangement are
plug$ ball$ and butterfly valves. .and levers are also used on manually operated sliding stem
valves.
A .ammer 3low .andwheel is used on large valves that would be somewhat difficult to operate
with an ordinary handwheel. The handwheel is turned rapidly and forcefully until the two
handwheel lugs strike the anvil that is attached to the stem. This hammering action increases the
tor;ue that is transmitted to the stem to force the disc tightly against the seat in large valves that
re;uire high tor;ue for complete shutoff$ or to free a disc that is wedged against the seat. @hen
extra tor;ue is not needed$ the handwheel is simply turned in the same manner as any other
handwheel 9prior to final seating during closing or after initial freeing during opening:.
2ears are supplied for many large high pressure valves re;uiring more operating tor;ue that can
be directly applied through a handwheel. 2ear operators are used to multiply the tor;ue from the
handwheel. 3evel gears$ spur gears$ or worm gears may be used.
6xtension Stems are used to operate a valve from a distance or to extend the stem through a
platform$ floor$ or wall. 6xtension stems are often used in nuclear power plants so that valves in
radiation 8ones can be operated from shielded areas. They are available as straight extensions$
with universal &oints$ or with right angle gear drives. A right angle drive is commonly used to avoid
line of sight orientation of operators for valves in high radiation systems. loor stands or wall
sleeves are sometimes used for this purpose.
loor Stands$ shown in igure 7!"7$ are used to guide$ support$ and shield an extension stem for
a valve that is operated through a floor or platform. loor stands are available in a variety of
styles$ with or without indicators.
4hain @heels$ also shown in igure 7!"7$ permit operation of the valve from floor level when the
valve is above a normal reach. The chain wheel can be attached to the handwheel$ or it can
replace the handwheel. .ammer blow chain wheels are also available.
(ne%)at*+ ,yl*n-er Operatr!
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FIGURE 7-17 - FLOOR STAND AND ,#AIN$#EEL DETAILS
Section 7 Valves
,neumatic cylinders$ shown in igures 7!"= and 7!"'$ are ideally suited for fast operation of large
gate valves. The cylinder contains a double acting piston. ,ressuri8ing one end will push the
piston back to open the valve$ and pressuri8ing the other end will reverse the action. The air
supply is controlled by a small #!way valve or a +!way valve with a spring loaded piston. This
valve may be manually operated or may have a manually or automatically controlled solenoid
operator. The cylinder can be used on sliding stem valves$ or adapted to externally threaded
rising stem valves.
The pneumatic piston operator designed for reciprocating stem positioning$ may easily be
adapted for butterfly valves and other types of valves by use of proper linkages and mounting
brackets. Ather types used for ;uarter turn actuation are)
4ylinder with rack and pinion
4ylinder with linkage
6lectric gear drive rotary with linkage
6lectric gear drive rotary direct connected$ hydraulic or pneumatic rotary vane
4ylinder with spiral thread
The .ydraulic 4ylinder operates on the same principle as the pneumatic cylinder$ and has similar
applications. A hydraulic pumping unit is usually needed to supply pressuri8ed hydraulic fluid.
4ylinders with rack and pinion may employ a double end piston with one rack and pinion or
pressure at one end may be replaced by a spring. Two separated double end pistons$ each
carrying a rack$ may be ported to give an additive output.
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FIGURE 7-1. - VALVE (NEUMATI,
O(ERATORS
Valves Section 7
4ylinder mounting methods due to the variety of bonnet and stem configurations becomes a
ma&or consideration. @hen the actuator design is controlled by the company producing the valve$
both may be designed for one another.
%n many cases$ the bonnet bolts are used to hold a bracket. lange bolting offers a firm and well
oriented point for bracket attachments. A spindle on a pipe saddle makes the unit easily
removable. ,ipe brackets suspending the actuator above the valve place no stress on the valve
body. The bracket may be screwed to an end connector.
Bse of a solenoid 9a soft iron core that can move within the field set up by a coil surrounding the
core: is a common means of opening or closing a valve. %nstrumentation valves are sometimes
operated by an electric solenoid. This application is typically used on small valves$ but
occasionally is used on valves up to # inches in si8e. The solenoid may be controlled by a
manually operated pushbutton switch$ but it usually has remote or automatic controls. The valve
is normally held in one position$ such as closed$ by a spring. As shown in igure 7!+>$ the
solenoid moves the stem to the opposite position$ such as fully open$ and the spring returns the
stem to the original position when the solenoid is de!energi8ed. A typical application is for low
pressure air service$ especially in instrumentation.
Solenoids cannot actuate large valves or valves with high pressure drops without undesirable
large solenoid currents. or such service$ the solenoid operates a small pilot valve to admit line
pressure for operation of the main valve.
or on!off control$ particularly where short valve strokes are needed$ solenoids offer a high
response speed. They are coupled to the valve stem either directly$ or indirectly through
mechanical or pneumatic mechanisms.
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Section 7 Valves
Solenoid operated valves are used extensively for emergency shutoff service or automatic
opening of a valve simultaneously with the operation of a pump or other piece of e;uipment.
Many electric valves used for emergency shutoff are magnetic$ but cannot be considered as
solenoid operated. The valve may be globe or rotating gate type$ and$ in either case$ held open
by electromagnets. Bpon loss of current 9due to the action of a pilot switch or failure of electrical
service:$ the valve closes by a combination of spring action$ weight of parts$ and sometimes$ fluid
flow in the line.
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FIGURE 7-1/ - (NEUMATI, VALVE O(ERATOR DETAIL