Effects of Differential Pressure on Valves and Piping in the Power Industry

July 15, 2017 3:04 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Unless you work in an industry that relies on pipelines to distribute a product from one point to another, there is a good chance the details of pipeline systems are lost on you. After all, it’s just a liquid or gas traveling through a pipe, right? How complicated could it be? The truth of it is that pipelines are intricate and, in some cases, delicate systems that often require precision measurements and attention to detail. One such case is differential pressure, which is how fluids or gases are measured as they travel through a pipe.

Now, let’s find out how a provider of valve services in Utah explains differential pressure in the power industry.

What is differential pressure (DP)?

In a pipeline environment, the pressure on either side of a valve is called differential pressure. First, the inbound side of the valve pressure differs from the outbound side of the valve. Measuring this flow helps to give operators a sense of how much liquid or gas is traveling through the pipeline so that it can be regulated or increased for maximum efficiency in the overall systems.

What are differential pressure control valves (DPCVs)?

Controlling the flow of liquid or gases requires differential pressure control valves (DPCVs). If a material is moving too quickly through a pipeline, it can put unnecessary strain on the overall system and its critical components. By adjusting a DPCV, operators can hone the flow of the material and optimize it for maximum efficiency. Many modern DPCVs allow the operator to see exact differential measurements on both the inbound and outbound side of the valve.

Features of differential pressure control valves

As we have already discussed, many modern valves allow pipeline operators to see pressure on both sides of a given point in a pipeline system. Some valves transmit real-time data to a control center, allowing either the operator or electronic control systems to manage the plant more efficiently. Monitors on the inbound and outbound sides of the DPCV keep precise count of the overall flow and allow quantitative decisions to be made on the hard data they produce.

Benefits of DPCVs

The main benefits of these valves are the amount of control they offer over any pipeline system. For industries like power production or petrochemical production, these DPCVs allow plant operators to not only operate efficiently, but also more safely. By keeping track of the differential pressure in the pipeline system, operators can see in real time the strain and delivery of the overall pipeline operation. Without them, they would be flying blindfolded.

If you work in the power industry—or another industry that relies on properly functioning valves and pipes—it’s important that you do not skimp on regular valve maintenance and parts replacements. Doing so can pose a serious safety risk to plant workers, as well as create a dangerous situation for the entire facility.

At Intermountain Valve Services Inc., we have a team of qualified professionals ready to perform a variety of valve services in Utah. Contact us today to schedule a service appointment!

Categorised in:

This post was written by admin

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *