5/9/2018 Next-generation

Search this site nozzle check valve

-Any reduce operating costs | Engineer Live
Magazine- Select Language ▼

Chemical Control & Instrumentation Design Electronics Mining Oil & Gas Power Process Renewables Transport Industry News Suppliers Database Events

Oil & Gas - Production/Processing

Next-generation nozzle check valve reduce

operating costs
21st February 2013

8
(/content/freeapp)

Oene Roorda looks at check valve options to prevent return flow, and at the advances
achieved in the latest non-slam nozzle check valve design, now in production
Check valves perform a critical function in preventing reverse flow and protecting plant
and mechanical equipment. But the variety of different types, and significant differences in
performance even within one type, can mean wide variations in through-life maintenance
requirements and life cycle costs, amounting to $millions over the typical 15 year design
life of piping components. Now, however, a next-generation non-slam nozzle check valve (http://content.yudu.com/web/15ex3/0A2nilh/IOGfeb18/index.html)
has taken check valve performance to a new level, significantly reducing operating costs.
(/subscribe)
A vital component of almost any pipeline system, a check valve's duty is to prevent return
flow by closing as quickly as possible when flow reverses, to protect mechanical
equipment in a piping system. This is particularly critical in the case of compressor and
pumping systems, where return flow would cause damage to the equipment by driving
them in reverse, resulting in unnecessary shutdown of the system.
When flow reverses, the check valve should close quickly to prevent return flow from
gaining momentum. This is important because the formation of significant reverse flow
(http://content.yudu.com/web/15ex3/0A2nilh/IOGfeb18/index.html)
velocity will introduce an undesirable high pressure surge (known as 'hammer') on sudden
shut-off and/or cause heavy 'slamming' of the closure member against the seat. If the Previous Issues

hammer effect is large, this can cause fatigue damage to the piping itself, as well as
loosening joints, introducing broader plant maintenance issues. This becomes an
increasingly significant issue on larger diameter piping, as the larger the fluid mass, the Newsbrief
greater the potential hammer effect may be, making an effective and responsive check To receive our free weekly
NewsBrief please enter your
valve all the more important.
email address below:
Ideally, a check valve will also allow flow in the desired direction with as little resistance or
pressure loss as possible, since this will minimise the pump action and therefore energy Please select your Country:
consumption required, and impacts significantly on the through-life cost of the valve. United Kingdom
(http://content.yudu.com/web/15ex3/0A2nilh/IOGfeb17/index.html)
Engineering Discipline:
Check valve variety Automotive
Aviation
While the function and requirements are common, the various different types of check
Design
valve have correspondingly varied performance characteristics. The most common type is
Electronics
the swing check valve, which requires a disc to close through a long 90 degree arc, in Mining
horizontal hinges, allowing some reverse flow to occur, and with closure that results in Nuclear
severe slamming and damaging hammer. Further, pressure loss across the valve is Oil & Gas
significant because, when open at normal or higher flow rates, the disc will flutter in the Power
flow. This flutter can also cause undesirable vibration of the piping system. Process
(http://content.yudu.com/htmlReader/A40cwk/IntOilGasAug16/index.html)
Rail
Other variations include a dual-plate check valve (quicker to respond, in vertical hinges,
Renewables
but still with slam on closure and with disc flutter creating flow resistance, and wear to the
spring and moving parts which can result in early valve failure), and a tilting disc check
valve with mild slam closure characteristics. Among other types are ball check valves, lift
check valves, and nozzle check valves.
Read the latest NewsBrief
A nozzle check valve has a disc which moves axially in the flow, and closing is spring (https://setform-mail.com/t/381-
assisted. The traditional nozzle check valve features a valve disc, shaft and bearings, 5K3BP-217658L93/cr.aspx)
compression spring, and a diffuser. Flow in the desired direction lifts the disc off the seat
towards the diffuser. In the fully open position the disc sits stable against the diffuser, with (http://content.yudu.com/A3ygym/IntOilGasFeb16/resources/index.htm?
any slowing or cessation of forward flow causing the spring to close the disc back against referrerUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fcontent.yudu.com%2FhtmlReader%2FA3ygym%

the seat ring, preventing reverse flow. Compared with other check valve types, the nozzle
check valve has the fastest dynamic performance and lowest pressure loss.
Not all nozzle check valves take advantage of its inherent superior design potential,
however, and there have remained areas for design optimisation to further improve
performance. Initially a second-generation nozzle check valve was produced incorporating
an improved flow profile to reduce pressure loss. Now, a third-generation nozzle check
valve has been developed, optimising the design to produce a faster dynamic
performance than was previously thought possible, and very low pressure loss. This in (http://content.yudu.com/A3shg8/IntOilGasAug15/)
turn results in superior protection of pumps, compressors and other plant components
from destructive return flow and hammer, coupled with reliable, maintenance-free
operation, and the lowest life-cycle costs (LCC) of any check valve currently available.
https://www.engineerlive.com/content/21406 1/3
5/9/2018 A number of the very latest advanced tools have been utilised
Next-generation nozzletocheck
optimise thereduce
valve designoperating
of costs | Engineer Live
this new Non-Slam Nozzle Check Valve from SMX International. These have included
computer flow modelling (computational fluid dynamics, CFD), as well as computer stress
modelling (finite element analysis, FEA), and flow testing (using rapid prototype
development and flow loop testing), both to improve dynamic performance and reduce
hydraulic losses.
Maximised dynamic performance
(http://content.yudu.com/A3c7dz/IOGfeb15/resources/index.htm?
First priority has been to improve on the dynamic performance of existing designs, as the referrerUrl=)
key parameter. This has been successfully achieved by optimising the Venturi effect
(using CFD to optimise the internal flow contour to achieve this); an ultra-short valve
stroke (a 25 per cent reduction on existing nozzle check valve designs); and minimising
the mass of the moving parts and ultra-low friction metal precision bearings. FEA has
been used to develop an ultra-light webbed valve disc which, together with a hollow shaft,
has resulted in an approximate 50 per cent weight reduction of the moving parts
compared to existing nozzle check valve designs. Further, the metal bearings are coated
with a high-tech PVD solid lubricant coating which reduces the friction to 25 per cent of
traditional Teflon bearings.
(http://content.yudu.com/A2ylax/IntOilGasAug14/resources/index.htm?
referrerUrl=)
A novel and powerful dual-spring closing action (patent pending) is key to the valve's
ground-breaking dynamic performance. Traditional nozzle check valves employ only one
spring and do not take full advantage of the Venturi effect which is inherent to this valve
type. In designing this latest valve, the optimised Venturi effect (which creates a strong
low pressure field behind the valve disc, adding a large hydrostatic component to the
opening force) allowed the installation of a very strong secondary spring. The powerful
dual-spring closing action, low inertia, ultra-low friction in the bearings and ultra-short
travel distance of the disc result in this valve's excellent dynamic non-slam response. It
closes rapidly before any appreciable reverse flow occurs, minimising slam, hammer
effects and pressure transient through the piping system. (http://content.yudu.com/A2ny0t/IntOilGasFeb14/resources/index.htm?
referrerUrl=)
Minimised pressure loss
A further aspect of the design optimisation lies in minimising hydraulic or pressure loss.
Lower pressure loss will increase the transmission efficiency, reducing compressor fuel
consumption, with environmental benefits and reducing the life cycle cost (LCC) of the
valve. The incremental fuel cost of the compressor arising from pressure loss across the
valve is the largest component in the check valve's LCC.
Existing nozzle check valves have a few common design deficiencies. In the full disc
design, for example, the seal ring location disrupts the flow contour at the point of highest (http://content.yudu.com/A2airc/IntOilGasAug13/resources/index.htm?
velocity, and the ribs that hold the diffuser (integral with valve body) are located in the referrerUrl=)

middle of the diffuser where velocities are relatively high. Now, in the latest design, the
diffuser contour has been optimised to improve its 'aerodynamic' characteristics. The use
of CFD in the design process allowed multiple design iterations to be analysed and
evaluated relatively rapidly, simulating fluid flow through the valve and minimising
recirculation zones which are largely responsible for hydraulic losses. The consequent
highly efficient diffuser results in a high degree of pressure recovery and exceptionally low
pressure loss (pressure loss coefficient K=0.45).
Additional aspects have also been optimised in the design of this next-generation non- (http://content.yudu.com/A1xl0i/IntOilGasAug12/resources/index.htm?
slam nozzle check valve, offering a number of benefits that address recognised issues in referrerUrl=)
terms of application suitability, procurement, and maintenance. For example, unlike
traditional nozzle check valves which have an integral diffuser and body, the latest valve
features a separate diffuser body. Further, the springs are installed in the hollow shaft and
are replaceable without major valve disassembly. The all-metal assembly with no
elastomers makes the valve readily suitable for high temperature applications.
And the metal-to-metal seal (providing a tight shut-off) and robust self-lubricating metal
bearings with ultra-low friction coating guarantee maintenance-free, reliable operation.
This latest non-slam nozzle check valve design has potential applications in natural gas, (http://content.yudu.com/A1vam4/IntOilGasFeb12/resources/index.htm?
LNG, and oil pipelines, including subsea applications, as well as refineries, and referrerUrl=)
petrochemical plants among others, and is suitable for horizontal and vertical installation.
Moreover, the result of this next-generation nozzle check valve design is not only superior
performance, and effective protection of mechanical equipment but, importantly,
minimised life cycle costs. Whereas life cycle costs (LCC) of other check valves are
typically three and a half to four times the capital cost, the LCC of this design non-slam
nozzle check valve is typically no more than 2.5 times the capital cost; a substantial and
valuable saving.
Oene Roorda is a director of SMX International Inc, based in Ontario, Canada. www.smx-
international.com

Tags:
design production plant maintenance components energy transmission efficiency
applications gas oil pipelines subsea
Related Stories:
Actuation design evolves for potentially explosive areas
https://www.engineerlive.com/content/21406 2/3
5/9/2018 Accurate gas analysis drives process efficiency
Next-generation nozzle check valve reduce operating costs | Engineer Live
Main automation suppliers focus on integration and flexibility
Automating functions at a Peruvian hydropower plant
Affordability, portability and precision key to thermal imaging

Share this page:

8

Subscriptions and Newsletters
FREE Subscription to Engineering magazines
(/subscribe)
FREE newsletter (/content/newsbrief)
Archive (/archive/articles)
Privacy policy (/node/13945)
European Engineering Magazines
Design Engineer (/categories/design-engineer)
Process Engineer (/categories/process-engineer)
Chemical Engineer (/categories/chemical-engineer)
© Setform Limited
Worldwide Engineering Titles About EngineerLive
Asian Engineer (/categories/asian-engineer) Contact Us (/contact)
Oil and Gas Engineer (/categories/oil-and-gas- Subscriptions (/subscribe/)
engineer) Your Career
Power Engineer (/categories/power-engineer) (http://www.engineerlive.com/yourcareer/)
Electronics Engineer (/categories/electronics- Suppliers Database
engineer) (http://www.engineerlive.com/products-
Mining Engineer (/categories/mining-engineer) new)
Scientist Live
(http://www.scientistlive.com/)

We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on this website. By continuing to use the website you agree to our use of cookies. Close

https://www.engineerlive.com/content/21406 3/3