Industrial valves are important components of machines and plants. They take over necessary regulation or control tasks there.
In the interaction of all plant components, self-acting valves are particularly advantageous. They are true all-rounders, as they operate without external energy sources or actuators. A power failure, for example, has no effect on their function. Self-acting valves also work reliably in areas that are difficult to access or in remote areas with weak infrastructure. The low installation and maintenance effort and the long service life of the valves, if optimally selected, provide considerable cost advantages in plant operation.

Lightweight and compact: self-acting valves score points during installation

Regardless of whether the latest plant generation is being built or an existing plant is being expanded/modified: During the planning phase and also during realization, many questions must be clarified in order to be able to make optimal use of the technical and economic plant potential.

However, two aspects significantly influence the system configuration, namely the available space and the total weight. And both are usually limited......
This is where self-acting industrial valves score points. Due to their low weight, they do not require any devices to support the valve. In comparison, self-acting pressure reducing valves in DN 50, for example, weigh up to 20 kg less than a control valve. Valves made of deep-drawn stainless steel weigh only between 2 and 25 kg, depending on the nominal size and pressure range.

Without an actuator, the valves take up less space in the machine or plant and are more flexible in terms of installation position, because an actuator often has to be mounted on top of the valve. The lack of an actuator also eliminates the need for many miles of cables, conduits or compressed air lines normally required to supply pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical auxiliary power. In certain cases, however, the self-acting valve requires a sense line or leakage line.
This in turn means that thanks to the lower weight and volume of self-acting industrial valves, fewer skilled personnel needs to be involved in installation and maintenance.

Highly reliable valves – as long as the fluid flows

Done! The plant is completely configured and starts its operation. Now the self-acting valves prove what they can do. Even under the most severe conditions - high temperatures, enormous pressure, often aggressive process media - they work reliably and efficiently according to the "set and forget" principle. This is because they are independent of external energy sources and operate as long as the medium is flowing.

Thanks to the bonnet, no fluid escapes from the self-acting industrial valves, even if, for example, a diaphragm should rupture. The bonnet also protects the spring from external influences and the plant operator from injury, as it is not possible to reach straight into the spring. If the valve is equipped with a leakage line connection, hazardous media can also be additionally discharged.

Despite all precautionary measures, unplanned plant shutdowns can catch the operator cold. This was the case for a food manufacturer, when foreign bodies in the pipelines entered rapidly into the valve and led to premature wear and a plant shutdown. From one second to the next, nothing worked anymore.

Downtimes and the associated production and delivery delays can cost tens of thousands of euros a day, depending on the industry and the size of the company. In the present case, the spare parts were shipped immediately after being ordered. Since the assembly and maintenance effort is only low and requires few skilled personnel in terms of numbers, the defect was quickly repaired and the plant was running smoothly again.

Once the valve is installed, only basic maintenance costs are incurred. Auxiliary energy, software updates and the more complex maintenance required for control valves are not necessary. In addition, the technology cannot become obsolete, which makes the costs easy to plan and manage.

Aspects for self-acting control valves that are convincing.

Costs

• Low assembly and maintenance costs 
• No external energy supply required
• Long operational lifespan with the proper selection of the valve 

Assembly and operation

• Easy installation of the valves 
• Low net weight and compact design 
• Valves can be operated even with poor infrastructure 
• No cabling or updates required 
• Particularly sturdy and maintenance-friendly 
  
  

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