Dual valve sealing doubles the benefits for chemical company
April 2001
Valves, Actuators & Pump Control
Fugitive emission detection (FED) ball valves from Hindle, normally used to prevent leakage of critical services to atmosphere, are also being ingeniously used by Elf Atochem to ensure zero air ingress from atmosphere into its chemical distillation columns, which could be extremely hazardous resulting in a fire, if not an explosion.
Part of the French multinational chemical company, Elf Atochem's Widnes site is the UK's sole manufacturer of chlorotoluene derivatives which are exported worldwide for the production of fine chemicals.
Within the production of benzaldehyde, it is necessary to keep the distillation columns under vacuum for part of the process. The ingress of air from atmosphere into the column could result in auto-oxidisation, which could lead to combustion or explosion.
To resolve this potentially hazardous problem, Elf Atochem has installed a Hindle Ultra-Seal ball valve fitted with FED adapter. The FED device incorporates a monitoring port sandwiched between two high integrity stem seal arrangements. The monitoring port enables Elf Atochem to ensure that air from the atmosphere has not entered the first seal, and if it has, to take remedial action to prevent leakage through the second seal into the distillation column.
Elf Atochem is also using Ultra-Seal ball valves with FED adapters in their more traditional role. The valves have been installed on high temperature process lines in its phenyl acetic acids salt plant to control the flow of ammonia, which is highly toxic. The FED Ultra-Seal ball valves have been chosen to enable plant operators to prevent leakage of ammonia from the process into the working environment, which would be harmful to both personnel, and the environment.
All Ultra-Seal ball valves incorporate a dynamic seat design for long-term reliable sealing, while the FED version features double high integrity stem seals.
MeasureTech
(011) 455 5710
[email protected]
www.tyco.com
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