During the operation of valves, operation and maintenance are key links to ensure the normal operation of valves, extend their service life, and prevent faults from occurring. The following elaborates on the key points of operation and maintenance during valve operation from the aspects of daily inspection, regular maintenance, fault handling, and operating standards:

1、 Daily inspection

1. Appearance inspection

• Inspection content: Check the appearance of the valve body, connection parts, actuator, etc. for any signs of damage, deformation, or leakage. Check whether there is corrosion or cracks on the surface of the valve body, whether the connecting flanges are loose, and whether the bolts are complete and tightened.

Meaning: Timely detection of potential problems outside the valve to prevent the problem from escalating. For example, if a slight leakage is found at the flange connection, the bolts can be tightened in a timely manner to prevent the leakage from worsening.

2. Running status check

• Inspection content: Observe whether the valve opens and closes flexibly, whether there is any blockage, abnormal vibration or noise. Manually operate the valve and feel if the operating torque is normal; For electric or pneumatic valves, observe whether the action of the actuator is smooth and whether there is any abnormal shaking.

Meaning: Jamming, abnormal vibration, or noise may be signals of damage to internal components of the valve, foreign objects getting stuck, and other issues. Timely detection and handling can prevent valve failure.

3. Sealing performance inspection

• Inspection content: Check for leaks at the valve seal. For liquid media, it can be judged by observing whether there is moisture or dripping around the sealed area; For gas media, soap water can be applied to the sealed area to observe for the formation of bubbles.

Meaning: Sealing performance is one of the key indicators of valves. Leakage not only causes medium loss, but may also affect production safety and the environment.

2、 Regular maintenance

1. Cleaning

• Maintenance content: Regularly remove dust, dirt, impurities, etc. from the surface and interior of the valve. For the interior of the valve, regular flushing or disassembly cleaning can be carried out according to the cleanliness of the medium.

Meaning: Dust, dirt, and impurities may affect the sealing performance and operational flexibility of valves, and even cause valve jamming or damage. For example, in the food processing industry, impurities inside valves may contaminate products and affect product quality.

2. Lubrication

• Maintenance content: Lubricate the moving parts of the valve, such as the valve stem, bearings, and transmission components of the actuator. Select the appropriate lubricant based on the valve type and usage environment, and lubricate according to the specified lubrication cycle and amount.

Meaning: Lubrication can reduce friction and wear between components, extend the service life of valves, and ensure the flexibility of valve operation. For example, for manual valves, poor lubrication of the valve stem can lead to increased operating torque and difficulty in operation.

3. Seal replacement

• Maintenance content: Regularly check the sealing components of the valve, such as gaskets, sealing rings, etc. When aging, wear, deformation, etc. are found in the sealing components, they should be replaced in a timely manner.

Meaning: Seals are key components that ensure the sealing performance of valves. Damage to them can cause valve leakage and affect the normal operation of the valve. For example, O-ring seals may age, harden, and lose their sealing performance after long-term use, and need to be replaced in a timely manner.

4. Inspection and replacement of vulnerable parts

• Maintenance content: Check the vulnerable parts of the valve, such as packing, spring, valve disc, etc., and replace them in a timely manner according to their degree of wear and service life.

Meaning: Damage to vulnerable parts can affect the performance and reliability of valves, and timely replacement can avoid valve shutdown caused by vulnerable part failures. For example, wear and tear of the packing can cause valve leakage and require regular inspection and replacement.

3、 Fault handling

1. Valve leakage fault handling

① Fault manifestation: There is medium leakage at the valve seal.

② Handling method:

For packing leakage: The packing gland bolts can be tightened appropriately. If the leakage problem still cannot be solved, the packing needs to be replaced.

For sealing surface leakage: check whether there are scratches, corrosion and other defects on the sealing surface. If there are, they can be repaired by grinding; If the sealing surface is severely damaged, the seal or valve disc needs to be replaced.

2. Fault handling of valve operation inflexibility

① Fault manifestation: Difficulty in opening and closing the valve, excessive operating torque.

② Handling method:

Check if the valve stem is bent or deformed: if so, correct or replace the valve stem.

Check if the thread between the valve stem and the valve stem nut is damaged: if so, repair the thread or replace the valve stem nut.

Check if there are any foreign objects stuck inside the valve: If there are, the valve needs to be disassembled for cleaning.

3. Troubleshooting of valve actuator

① Fault manifestation (electric actuator): The actuator does not move, moves slowly, or is abnormal.

② Handling method:

Check if the power supply is normal: If there is a power failure, the power problem needs to be resolved.

Check if the motor is damaged: If the motor is damaged, it needs to be replaced.

Check if the control circuit is faulty: If the control circuit is faulty, it is necessary to perform circuit maintenance or replace damaged electrical components.

4、 Operating standards

1. Operator training

Training content: Provide professional training to valve operators to familiarize them with the structure, performance, operation methods, and maintenance requirements of valves.

Meaning: Operators possess professional knowledge and skills, are able to operate valves correctly, and avoid valve failures caused by improper operation. For example, by understanding the opening and closing direction and operating torque range of the valve, operators can avoid damaging the valve stem due to excessive force.

2. Strictly follow the operating procedures

• Operation requirements: When opening and closing valves, the operation should be carried out slowly and steadily to avoid water hammer caused by rapid opening and closing of valves, which may impact pipelines and valves. For manual valves, operators should apply even force and not use brute force; For electric or pneumatic valves, they should be operated according to the prescribed operating procedures.

Meaning: Standardized operation can ensure the normal operation of valves and extend their service life. For example, when closing a valve quickly, water hammer may occur, causing the valve or pipeline to rupture.