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what is the purpose of packing in a valve

by Ned Greenholt Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Here’s how it works:

  • W ith a pre-loaded spring on bottom, the packing expands slightly and creates a tight seal between the stem and the valve body.
  • During oil and gas production, the additional pressure from the process exerts more force on the packing. ...
  • This action prevents production fluid from leaking from the valve and keeps it headed where you want it—downstream.

Valve packing is a component in a valve that forms pressure seal between the inside of the valve and the outside of the valve, keeping the process fluid from leaking out. Over time, the packing will wear in, relax, or loosen up with process temperature, or even seasonal ambient temperatures, and begin to leak.Jun 8, 2017

Full Answer

What is self forming valve packing?

Valve Packing is designed to put an end to leaky valves, which wastes both water and energy. The self - forming packing will help return your valve to “like-new” condition. It has a universal design that can be used with many gaskets.

What are valve packing glands?

Gland & Valve Packings. Gland and valve packings are compression packing elements used for valves and pumps. They are designed to provide a seal between a moving spindle or shaft and the pressurised housing that it penetrates.

What type of valve to use?

What Types of Valves are Used In The Oil and Gas Industry?

  1. Plug Valves. Plug valves are conical or cylindrically-tapered ‘plugs’ that can be rotated inside the valve body to start or stop the flow of medium through the valve or ...
  2. Bellow-Sealed Valves. Bellow-sealed valves are made of steel and commonly used due to their internal construction and axial movement of the valve stem.
  3. Ball Valves. ...
  4. Gate Valves. ...

More items...

What is the purpose of a valve tappet?

The tappet is used to allow motion from the cam shaft be transmitted to the valves. The tappet allows for mechanical adjustment as pointed out by Mr. Singh, but you can have tappets that are filled by oil pressure from the engine and they will adjust according to wear.

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What is packing in ball valve?

Packing – Flexible seals that fit around the shaft and prevent the media traveling through the valve from escaping externally. Bonnet – The part of the valve body that houses the stem and packing.

What is packing in gate valve?

Regardless of valve type, all stem-actuated control valves require some form of seal allowing motion of the stem from some external device (an actuator ) while sealing process fluid so no leaks occur between the moving stem and the body of the valve. The general term for this sealing mechanism is packing.

Do all valves have packing?

Regardless of type, all valves have the following basic parts.. the body, bonnet, trim (internal elements), actuator, and packing.

How do you pack a water valve?

1:502:57Gate Valve Repacking - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInsert the first piece of packing into the valve body by wrapping it around the stem and pushing itMoreInsert the first piece of packing into the valve body by wrapping it around the stem and pushing it down into the valve.

How do you adjust valve packing?

1:194:07Valtek Control Valves Basic Valve Packing Adjustments - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTurn or one nut flat at a time in an alternating manner while keeping the stem centered in the glandMoreTurn or one nut flat at a time in an alternating manner while keeping the stem centered in the gland flange tighten conservatively or just enough to stop the leak without over-tightening.

What is PTFE packing?

In simple terms, packing materials made of PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene are known as PTFE packings. These are sealants offering mechanical compression for complex applications across industries. You can find them being used extensively in industrial plants dealing with oxidising media or corrosive chemicals.

What is valve packing made of?

There are two main types of valve packing materials. The most widely-used is PTFE packing, which can be used either as "virgin" (pure), or loaded with other materials such as glass fiber, silica, and carbon. The other type is graphite packing, which can withstand high temperatures of up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Can you repack a valve under pressure?

The simple answer is: NO! Repacking a valve which is under pressure can cause personal injury and/or property damage, and should never be done. Repacking a valve is part of routine maintenance. Valve packing forms a pressure seal to keep the process media (water, steam, other) from leaking.

What size valve packing do I need?

To determine the correct packing size, measure the diameter of the stem inside the stuffing box. Measure the diameter of the stuffing box bore and the box depth. To get the cross-sectional size, subtract the inside diameter measurement from the outside diameter measurement and divide the difference by two.

What is faucet packing?

Bonnet packing is a ring shaped from fiber material, placed around a faucet handle stem to prevent and reduce leaks. If your faucet handles are leaking, you might need to replace your faucet stem packing.

How do you pack a shut-off valve?

3:306:14Fix Shut Off Valve Leaking at Stem - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOpen then turn the pecking that fully counterclockwise. And slide it up against the handle of theMoreOpen then turn the pecking that fully counterclockwise. And slide it up against the handle of the valve wrap the pecking rope around the stem of the valve. About two times the packing nut clockwise.

How do you stop a water valve from leaking?

First shut off the water to the leaking water valve. Next remove the handle from the stem and then loosen and remove the packing nut. Remove the old washer and slide on the new one. Reinstall the packing nut, tighten lightly with a wrench (don't over tighten at this or any other point) and reattach the handle.

What is graphite packing?

Graphite packing is a highly resistant sealant used in systems with valves, faucets, and stuffing boxes, as well as other machines with watertight mechanical parts. It can be applied either to static valve stems or to moving joints.

What is Palmetto packing used for?

Palmetto Packings is a leading manufacturer of high-quality packing materials for pumps and valves. Packing rings are used to provide a "compression seal" for pumps and valves. Packing is also called pump packing, valve packing, braided packing, compression packing, rope packing and mechanical packing.

What size valve packing do I need?

To determine the correct packing size, measure the diameter of the stem inside the stuffing box. Measure the diameter of the stuffing box bore and the box depth. To get the cross-sectional size, subtract the inside diameter measurement from the outside diameter measurement and divide the difference by two.

Can you repack a gate valve under pressure?

The simple answer is: NO! Repacking a valve which is under pressure can cause personal injury and/or property damage, and should never be done. Repacking a valve is part of routine maintenance. Valve packing forms a pressure seal to keep the process media (water, steam, other) from leaking.

What is the packing material for control valves?

In the world of control valves, the traditional packing material used to be asbestos (shaped into rings or ropes, much like flax used to be shaped for use in stuffing boxes), but is now commonly Teflon or graphite as well.

What is the best packing material for a hand valve?

The two most common packing materials in use today are Teflon (PTFE) and graphite. Teflon is the better of the two with regard to fluid sealing, stem friction, and stem wear.

What is a stem packing lubricator?

In packing applications requiring external lubrication, a stem packing lubricator may be connected to the lubrication port on the bonnet. This device uses a long, threaded bolt as a piston to push a quantity grease into the packing assembly:

What is the best packing material for propeller shafts?

Traditional packing material for ship propeller shafts is flax rope. Some form of lubrication is usually provided so this packing material does not impose excessive friction on the shaft’s motion. Modern marine stuffing boxes use advanced materials such as Teflon (PTFE) or graphite instead of flax, which wear longer and leak less water. ...

What is a hybrid packing material?

Hybrid packing materials, such as carbon-reinforced Teflon, have been developed in an attempt to combine the best characteristics of both materials. A legacy valve packing material is asbestos, woven into packing rings much the same way as graphite fibers are woven into modern packing rings.

What is the metal piece that separates the packing rings?

In this diagram, we see two sets of packing rings separated by a metal piece called a lantern ring. The lantern ring acts as a spacer allowing lubricant introduced through the lubrication port to enter into both packing sets from the middle of the bonnet.

What is the seal mechanism for a stem actuated valve?

The general term for this sealing mechanism is packing.

What type of packing should I use for a valve?

If you want your Valve packing to last the longest you will use quality materials. PTFE and Flexible Graphite hold up extremely well to Chemicals. Flexible Graphite Valve packings hold up best to heat. If your application has high pressure, wire inserted packing such as 627, 677, should be considered. Anti-extrusion rings of carbon packing are also a great idea.

What is the similarity between pump and valve packing?

The similarity is that both pump and valve packing need to seal reliably. Valve packings will often be used in a combination set. A good example is flexible graphite packing generally needs to have carbon end rings, to act as a wiper and an anti-extrusion device.

What are the requirements for valve packing?

The necessary qualifications of a valve packing for a control valve, are in order of importance as follows: sealing capability. low friction. lifetime. wide range of use.

What is the most important parameter that affects the selection of type of packing?

The temperature of process fluid is the most important parameter which affects the selection of type of packing. It fixes in fact which materials can be used for packing construction independently from other factors.

Why is the stem of a packing assembly scratched?

The stem can be scratched by a wrong contact with metallic parts of packing assembly due to mechanical misalignments or reduction of clearances because of differential thermal expansions.

What is corrosion in valves?

Corrosion. primarily of the valve stem. The corrosion destroys the stem finish, which in turn destroys the packing from the inside towards the outside. Under-tightening, which normally comes with normal in-service wear, and regular/routine maintenance does not include re-tightening the packing’s force-loading mechanism.

Why is packing material compressed?

Packing material is compressed to provide an effective pressure seal between the fluid in the valve body and the outside atmosphere.

Does packing compression exceed the sealing value?

The packing compression must not exceed in any case the strictly necessary value to obtain sealing.

Do packing rings need lubrication?

c) lubrication Generally packing rings made of pure PTFE or pure graphite do not require lubrication.

What is valve packing?

Valve packing is a kind of dynamic sealing structure which is installed between the valve stem and the packing box of the valve cover to prevent outside leakage. Packing material, reasonable packing box structure and installation methods ensure the valve reliable sealing performance. There are various valve sealing packing materials are available and different packing suitable for different working conditions, including asbestos, graphite, PTFE, etc.

What material is used for valve packing?

Generally speaking, the valve packing materials are mainly PTFE and flexible graphite, be noted that the packing box dimension accuracy, roughness, stem surface dimension accuracy also affect packing seal performance.

What is metal wrapped packing?

It can include metal-wrapped packing, metal laminated packing, metal corrugated packing, lead packing, etc. The metal wrapped packing and metal laminated packing is characterized by high-temperature resistance, erosion resistance, abrasion resistance, high strength, good thermal conductivity, but poor sealing performance must be used with plastic packing, its temperature, pressure, corrosion resistance that depends on metal material.

What is flexible graphite packing?

Flexible graphite packing is the most widely used material in the valve, which can be pressed molding, has been widely used in the field of petroleum, chemical industry, power generation, chemical fertilizer, medicine, paper, machinery, metallurgy, aerospace and atomic energy and other industries wherewith the nominal pressure ≤32MPa. It has the following excellent performance:

Is incision packing corrosion resistant?

The wide range of -200℃-500℃ usages, even in non-oxidizing medium up to 2000℃ and maintain excellent sealing; Strong corrosion resistance. It has good corrosion resistance to acid, alkali, organic solvent, organic gas and steam. Low friction coefficient, good self – lubrication; Excellent impermeability to gases and liquids; Long service life, can be repeated use.

What is valve packing?

Valve packing is a component in a valve that forms pressure seal between the inside of the valve and the outside of the valve, keeping the process fluid from leaking out. Over time, the packing will wear in, relax, or loosen up with process temperature, or even seasonal ambient temperatures, and begin to leak. And any process fluid that leaks out of a valve can be costly, can be messy, it may be even harmful to health and environment. The most important thing is to catch the packing leak early and address it before it has a chance to further cause damage. In the early stages of packing failure, it may be difficult to detect the process fluid coming out of a packing box unless you’re very attentive in keeping an eye on the valve. But the leak is only going to worsen.

How to replace packing in valve?

Replacing the packing in the valve would typically involve removing the valve from service and disassembling the actuator from the valve, and then separating the valve body to completely access the packing box. Although this is a fairly easy task, you should refer to your product instruction manual for step-by-step directions, or consult with your account representative with how we can take care of that for you. There are a multitude of other maintenance tasks that you can and should do with your control valves. But packing maintenance is probably the easiest and most cost effective step you can take to extend the life of your control valve. If you do nothing else with the valve, keep the packing in good health.

When was it acceptable to pack a valve?

In the 1970s, it was acceptable for packing to lose a few drops a minute in each valve. But today there are specific laws mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and guidelines set up by Leak Detection and Repair programs that establish strict limits for leaks of any kind to prevent contaminating plants and the environment. One plant, for instance, did 700,000 inspections last year alone. Each valve is inspected, tagged if it leaks, scheduled for repair and then inspected again.

How to properly install valve stem packing?

To properly install valve stem packing, the user must first thoroughly flush the system. This means locking out the motor, closing the valve and relieving all pressure within the valve system. Employees should wear the appropriate safety clothing and eye protection during this process. Some valves only require back-seating.

How to measure the size of a packing box?

To determine the correct packing size, measure the diameter of the stem inside the stuffing box. Measure the diameter of the stuffing box bore and the box depth. To get the cross-sectional size, subtract the inside diameter measurement from the outside diameter measurement and divide the difference by two. The packing should be cut on a mandrel of the same size as the stem or using a packing cutting tool (see Figure 3). Do not stretch or flatten the rings. Keep them clean of debris.

How many rings are needed to pack a valve stem?

Packing a valve stem requires as little as one or two rings in a rotating stem to as many as seven rings for a rising stem. The rings can be made from braided or a solid die-formed packing. Braided rings need to wrap around a mandrel and be butt-cut or diagonally cut (skive) at 45 degrees. Diagonally cut is the preferred method.

How to remove old packing from a stuffing box?

All the old packing must be removed from the stuffing box with a packing removal tool (see Figure 1). Using a mirror, a user should check the stem for pitting or scoring and ensure that the box is clean and that none of the old packing material remains. If necessary, lift the shaft to check the bearings, and replace them as necessary.

Why is stem packing important?

With today's mandate for reduced fugitive emissions and improved air quality in industrial valves, proper installation of stem packing has become critical. But the importance of effective sealing by packing in the stuffing box goes beyond volatile operations where leakage can be hazardous. It also applies to applications such as steam and low-temperature inert services. Stem packing leakage in non-fugitive emissions applications can be expensive because of product loss and a reduction of operating efficiency. It all comes down to proper installation with precisely the right material.

Can you wind a packing into a coil?

Never wind the packing into a coil in the stuffing box. Always cut the packing into individual rings using a 45-degree skive or diagonal cut (see Figure 2). Cut each ring and check to make certain that it fits in the stuffing box. Each additional ring should be cut in the same manner. Pre-engineered rings require no cutting.

Why did engineers loosen the packing on a valve?

Mechanics loosened the packing to allow for minor leakage and restarted the plant.

What is an example of a valve that failed right after it was put in service?

One example involves troubleshooting a valve that failed right after it was put in service. The valve, including the gland nose, had recently been painted for corrosion resistance. The valve had been torqued to a value provided by the packing manufacturer but leaked profusely during startup.

What happens when a PTFE valve leaks?

When these gases leak out, they ignite spontaneously. Because the process is at room temperature, valves are often specified with PTFE packing. If a leak occurs, the flames make the equipment glow red and heat the pipes. By the time the plant's fire department can arrive and start controlling the fire, the heat from the faulty equipment could travel up the pipe to an adjacent valve that was sealing perfectly. Because of the leaking valve's excess heat, the PTFE packing can overheat, fail and become engulfed in flames.

What was the first step before repacking a paint box?

Once all the packing was out of the stuffing box, the first step before repacking was to see if the gland moved freely into the box. As it dropped down, it was apparent that the gland and new paint restricted movement.

Can PTFE valves exceed operating temperature?

In the case of PTFE, operation only a few degrees above its thermal limit makes the product become ineffective in sealing. At certain plants, the valve can exceed operating temperature when the system is upset, pushing the design limits.

Do valve packings need to leak to seal a valve?

The truth is that valve packing does not need to leak to seal a control valve. This particular case is a perfect example of the complex dynamic between valve sealability, gland loading and stem friction. These three values must be balanced to create a valve that can operate leak-free within the actuators' margin window.

What is valve packing?

Valve packings are traditional and still are a kind of dynamic sealing structure. We install it between the valve stem and the valve cover packing box to prevent external leakage. Packing material, reasonable packing box structure and installation methods ensure the reliable sealing performance of the valve.

Why is valve stem packing required?

Control valve stem packing products are designed to meet the most demanding and challenging needs of refineries, chemical processing facilities, power generation, and many more.

Types of Valve Packing

Flexible graphite packing is the most suitable packing material for the valves operating in a o temperature range above 232 °C (450° F).

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