TPi October 2009

f i t t ings feature on . . .

Medium-pressure ball valve delivers sealing up to 15,000 psig

Swagelok medium-pressure ball valves deliver reliable and repeatable operation to meet the performance requirements of common offshore applications, such as topside wellhead control panels, chemical injection panels, well workover panels and control systems. A bottom- loaded stem design eliminates system blowout for enhanced operator safety. Maintaining the integrity of the valve seal is critical for applications where positive shut off is required. The valve features low-torque actuation, eliminating the need for assist methods and accessories in manual actuation. If pneumatic actuation is required, the valves are available with ISO-5211 compliant actuators. A positionable handle provides flexibility in panel layout by reducing clearance issues with other components. Swagelok medium-pressure ball valves feature a 0.209" (5.3mm) orifice, 316 stainless steel body construction, and reinforced PEEK seat seals. The valves are rated for temperatures from -17° to 121°C (0° to 250°F) and maintain a full pressure rating throughout the entire operating temperature range. Multiple O-ring materials are available, including nitrile, fluoroelastomer, and perfluoroelastomer. All wetted materials are compatible with most hydrocarbons. Offered in a 2-way configuration, the valves are available with Swagelok medium-pressure tube fitting end connections, which provide single turn makeup, or makeup by torque, for reduced installation time and labour costs. As with traditional Swagelok tube fittings, the end connections employ a two ferrule design to deliver robust tube grip, leak-tight gas seal, and vibration resistance. Female NPT end connections are also available. End connections sizes are 1 / 4 , 3 / 8 , and 1 / 2 ". The FKB series valve is the company’s first release of three sizes for its medium- pressure product line. The Swagelok line of medium pressure products includes medium pressure fittings and seamless tubing. The 316 stainless steel fittings are available in a variety of configurations for use with medium pressure stainless steel tubing, both heavy wall annealed and cold-drawn 1/8 hard, and heavy wall SAF 2507™ super duplex tubing.

Innovative stem and end connection seals prevent shell leakage and provide robust cycle life even in severe conditions. The introduction of this ball valve expands the company’s line of medium-pressure products, including gaugeable tube and adapter fittings and seamless tubing, which satisfy the higher working pressure requirements of the oil and gas industry.

THE Swagelok ® FKB series medium- pressure ball valve, designed for improved cycle life in the field, provides a leak-tight seal for applications up to 15,000 psig (1,034 bar). The trunnion-style ball valve features Swagelok’s patent-pending direct load design, which delivers a consistent seal across a full range of pressures.

Laminar sealing rings TFC Europe Ltd provides engineering solutions that incorporate the use of high quality fasteners and ring and spring products. As a technical based distributor, the company has thousands of fastening solutions, including one-stop-shop capability, and has been a BS/EN/ISO 9002 approved supplier since 1990. Once a natural gas or oil well is drilled, and it has been verified that commercially viable quantities of natural gas or oil are present for extraction, the well must be completed to allow for the flow of oil, petroleum or natural gas out of the formation and up to the surface. This process includes strengthening the well hole with casing, evaluating the pressure and temperature of the formation, and then installing the proper equipment to ensure an efficient flow out of the well. This is where a choke valve controls the pressure and flow, and it is imperative that the primary scraper ring performs its function of keeping the flow regulated and free from debris. Choke valves are the first primary valve used to control flow and pressure when oil and gas exits the well. In this position the valve is exposed to high velocities and direct impacts from material suspended in the oil, from fine sand and grit, and sizeable chunks of rock and other debris. It is one of the most arduous applications for any valve.

Sealing is a vital element in the construction and TFC’s Smalley Laminar Rings have been specified as the primary scraper ring seal used in the stem packing and stem plug arrangements. Laminar Rings are configured to create a metal labyrinth, the arrangement of which is dependent upon the severity of the environment. Manufactured in Haynes 25 Alloy L605, and with special interlocking end configurations, they provide a suitable scraper ring seal set to withstand the arduous conditions to which they are regularly subjected.

Laminar Rings: a metal labyrinth is created S S by using a set of three in-springing and two out-springing single turn rings in an alternating configuration

The criticality of keeping the valve clear of debris is crucial, and failure to do so can dramatically affect performance ultimately leading to a failure within the system, which if a blockage occurs can be catastrophic.

TFC Europe Ltd – UK rupfield@tfc.eu.com • www.tfc.eu.com

Swagelok Company – USA www.swagelok.com

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Tube Products International October 2009

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