Local valves for the oil and gas industries

February 2008 Valves, Actuators & Pump Control

Umzantsi Africa Pumps and Valves, a subsidiary of PSV Holdings, has the capacity to manufacture knife gate valves to the most exacting client specifications.

The knife gate valve shows cutting edge design

Helena de Villiers, MD of Umzantsi, explains that Geomet knife gate valves are highly cost-competitive. "Geomet has been in the business of manufacturing valves and related equipment for many years and in this time has built up unsurpassed levels of expertise," she adds.

The rugged construction ensures reliable operation in harsh environments, while retaining ease of maintenance. This makes them ideally suited to applications in mines, water, power generation and the oil and gas industries.

"These valves have been used with great success in the tough conditions encountered underground and in equally harsh applications, controlling flows of corrosive chemicals," says de Villiers.

Geomet offers a wide range of knife gate valves in the medium pressure range. The bodies and blades can be supplied in cast iron or stainless steel, or in other metals to meet application specific requirements. Durable lining or coating of both valves bodies and blades can also be provided.

"For lining the body, we can offer the choice of rubber or polyurethane for greatly extended valve life and an absolute minimum of downtime," continues de Villiers.

The spindle can be totally enclosed and can have a NiHard wear lining for dealing with exceptionally abrasive slurries or aggressive chemicals. The bottom-sealing radius does not have a groove, which prevents the entrapment of dirt and the blade design also ensures a tighter gland seal. Resilient sealing in both lined and unlined valves ensures minimal leakage and spindle friction has been reduced through the use of a bronze nut.

To avoid sticking the design incorporates a recessed self-cleaning section, which prevents the build up of slurry or solids. Potential build-up of feed material and subsequent blockages are prevented through the use of a deflector cone.

The use of a standard gland seal allows for adjustment of the gland even while the valve is under pressure. Repacking of the gland seal can be done in the field without having to remove the unit. Local manufacture ensures that spares and support are always available and no purpose-built tools are required for maintenance.

Valve operation can be manual or by means of pneumatic or electric actuators. The valve pillars are fitted with ISO standard pads to ensure easy fitting of actuators making them well suited for use in modern automated plants.

"We would encourage anyone considering changing valves or designing new pipeline systems, to make use of our free valve consultancy service," concludes de Villiers.

For more information contact Helena de Villiers, Umzantsi, +27 (0)11 828 7825, helena.umzantsi@psv.co.za, www.umzantsiafrica.co.za

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Valves, Actuators & Pump Control

Local valves for the oil and gas industries

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