API globe valve achieves low leakage operation in desulfurization unit of natural gas purification plant

The desulfurization unit of a natural gas purification plant poses a challenge to the valve sealing performance due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide and moisture in the medium.

In recent years, the factory has gradually replaced the ordinary shut-off valves in key positions with low leakage shut-off valves that meet API standards. After continuous operation assessment, environmental monitoring data shows that the valve leakage is maintained at a low level. The desulfurization unit medium has strong permeability and toxicity, and even a small sealing gap can cause harmful gases to escape, posing a threat to personnel health and environmental safety.

The new API globe valve adopts a bellows sealing structure instead of traditional packing sealing. When the valve stem moves, the bellows can expand and contract freely, completely blocking the medium from communicating with the atmosphere. At the same time, a double sealing pair is installed at the valve cover to further reduce the risk of leakage. The valve body material is made of forged steel that is resistant to hydrogen sulfide stress corrosion, and its hardness is controlled through special heat treatment. On site inspection personnel used volatile gas detectors to conduct regular inspections of valve sealing points, and the results showed that all valves had stable sealing performance and no abnormal concentration alarms.

The API standard provides detailed regulations for valve leakage testing, including helium leak detection and methane leak detection methods, providing a basis for the production and acceptance of low leakage valves.

In recent years, the natural gas purification industry has attached great importance to environmental compliance, and the control of unorganized emissions from valves has become increasingly strict. The low leakage shut-off valve renovation experience of the factory has received attention from similar enterprises in the surrounding area, providing a feasible technical path for industry emissions reduction.