Hazards of cavitation and flash of regulating valves and countermeasures

Cavitation and flash of regulating valves in stations along product oil pipelines may impact or break pipeline devices, produce vibrations, noises and other hazards that may negatively affect metering operations. With consideration to mechanisms for generation of cavitation and flash in regulating valves, unreasonable structures, improper installation positions, various working conditions and so on are key factors that may induce cavitation and flash in regulating valves. In addition, proper countermeasures have been proposed: deployment of regulating valves with angular structures with input end at lower position and output end at higher position, adoption of cavitation-resistant valve cores, utilization of materials with higher hardness, installation of regulating valves in lower positions in stations and sufficient distances shall be maintained from downstream devices, installation of getter devices, deployment of sleeves on inlet and outlet pipelines, avoiding or reducing operations of regulating valves under minor flow rates or under significant differential pressures at inlet and outlet other relevant measures. Above-mentioned methods may effectively eliminate the possibility of cavitation and flash to maintain proper functioning of regulating valves.