Control valves are the heart of a cooling water system. They govern the coolant flow in and out of the process piping and ensure adequate pressure for proper operation. If your Coolant Control Valve is improperly adjusted or malfunctioning, it can cause several problems affecting your plant's production capacity and potentially lead to expensive shutdowns. Here are some common causes for Coolant Control Valves not working correctly:
Improper Water Flow
The first step is to determine whether the flow is correct. If it is, then there may be a leak in your system. If not, check your control valve for malfunctioning or damaged parts. If this does not solve the problem, clogs in your piping may restrict water flow and cause high-pressure build-up (possibly damage).
Poorly Adjusted Control Valve
If the control valve is not adjusted correctly, it will cause significant energy loss. For example, if a control valve is set at 10% open and you want to achieve a flow rate of 10L/min but only operate at 5L/min, then there will be an additional loss due to this poorly adjusted control valve.
The most important thing when adjusting your valves is ensuring they are set at their operating point, at minimum and maximum flow rates. The operating point should always be above the minimum flow rate and below the maximum flow rate.
Excessive Pressure Drop and Leakage
Excessive pressure drop may be caused by the following:
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A faulty check valve: A check valve should close when there is no flow through the system, but if it does not, then excessive pressure drop will occur. The cause could be improper installation or damage to the body of this device or its seat ring.
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A leak in your system piping and equipment, such as valves, pumps, and motors, can also cause an excessive pressure drop in cooling water systems because it creates turbulence that reduces heat transfer efficiency by causing hot water to be mixed with cold water before entering a pump suction line where most of your equipment is located (i.e., motor).
Control Valves should be adjusted and checked regularly
You should check the control valve regularly to ensure it is adjusted correctly and in good condition. It will ensure that your cooling system is working efficiently. The following points can be used as a checklist:
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Is the control valve corroded? If so, replace it with a new one.
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Have any parts of the control valve been damaged? If so, replace those parts with new ones from your local hardware store or online retailer (depending on how easy it is to find).
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Is there any dirt or other foreign objects inside your current setup? If so, clean these out before proceeding further with this process!
Conclusion
In conclusion, optimizing the cooling water system efficiency using a control valve is essential. It regulates the flow of coolant through the engine so that it doesn't get too hot or too cold, which could damage internal parts. If you notice any leaks or damage to your valve, it's time to have it inspected by our Proteus Industries Inc. experts today!