How often is the maintenance of gate valves carried out?

Maintenance cycle and key points of gate valve

As a key equipment for controlling fluid flow in pipeline systems, the maintenance cycle of gate valves needs to be determined comprehensively based on factors such as frequency of use and working environment to ensure stable performance and extend service life.

Regular maintenance cycle

Mild usage scenario: If the gate valve is used infrequently and in a clean, non corrosive medium environment, it is recommended to perform comprehensive maintenance every 6-12 months. For example, in the water supply and drainage systems of some civil buildings, some gate valves are only operated during equipment maintenance or system adjustment, and such gate valves can be maintained according to this cycle.

Moderate usage scenario: For gate valves with moderate frequency of use, medium with certain corrosiveness or containing a small amount of impurities, maintenance should be carried out every 3-6 months. Some auxiliary pipeline gate valves in chemical enterprises may not operate continuously, but the medium may cause slight erosion to the valve body, requiring increased maintenance frequency.

Heavy use scenario: Under continuous operation, strong corrosiveness of the medium, or conditions containing a large amount of solid particles, the wear and corrosion rate of the gate valve accelerates, and maintenance should be carried out 1-2 times a month. For example, the mineral processing pipeline gate valve of mining enterprises, which transports ore slurry for a long time, will cause serious wear on the sealing surface and valve body of the gate valve due to solid particles, and must be maintained frequently.

Key points of maintenance and upkeep

Appearance inspection: Before and after each operation of the gate valve, check the appearance of the valve body for any cracks, deformations, leaks, or other abnormal conditions. If rust is found on the surface of the gate valve, it should be promptly removed and coated with anti rust paint.

Sealing performance testing: Regularly test the sealing performance of the gate valve. The sealing effect can be judged by closing the gate valve and applying pressure to the pipeline to observe whether the pressure is stable. If the seal is not tight, it is necessary to replace the seal in a timely manner.

Maintenance of operating mechanism: Check whether the handwheel, gearbox and other operating mechanisms of the gate valve are flexible and whether there is any jamming phenomenon. Regularly add lubricating oil to the operating mechanism to ensure smooth rotation.

The maintenance of gate valves is crucial. Reasonable maintenance cycles and scientific maintenance methods can effectively reduce the occurrence of failures and ensure the safe and stable operation of pipeline systems.