Everything You Need to Know About Sluice Valve

Valves play an important role in a utility system. They help control, regulate, and direct the flow of liquid. One of the valves widely used across industries is the sluice valve.

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What is a Sluice Valve?

A sluice valve is a device that regulates the flow of liquid in a fully opened or fully closed position. The sluice valve is a gate or wedge-shaped disc that moves perpendicularly to the direction of the liquid entering or exiting the pipeline. The Sluice gate does not hinder the flow of the liquid in an open position. It is used along the pipe in one-directional or bi-directional flow. It is widely used in process plants to handle slurries.

 

How Does a Sluice Valve Work?

The Sluice valve consists of a gate, a stem, a seat, a bonnet, and an actuator to sometimes automate the flow. The gate seals the liquid flow, seats ensure sealing along with the gate, and bonnets are valve components for safe passage sealing.

1.  

2. Stem:

    The sluice gate valve&#;s movement depends on a threaded stem that raises or lowers the gate or wedge-shaped disc. The gate is connected to the lower end of the stem, and the upper end has a wheel. The wheel operations can be done manually or mechanically. The wheel is required to turn several times to change positions. There are two types of wheels to raise or lower the gate in a sluice valve. The wheels are also known as spindles. Two types of spindles are:

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4.  &#; Rising spindle: The stem is attached to a wedge such that the stem and wedge rise or lower together when the valve is operated. The rising spindle provides a visual indication of the valve operations.

5.  &#; Non-rising spindle: The wedge moves up or down the stem on the threads without raising or lowering the stem. The non-rising spindle may have a pointer threaded onto the upper end of the stem to indicate the valve position.

6.  

In both types, the valve opening method can be clockwise or counter-clockwise.

 

Where Does Sluice Valve Find Applications?

A sluice valve is ideal for use when the liquid flow must be cut off; it cannot be used as a flow regulator.

Sluice valve finds application in wastewater treatment plants and across industries in process plants to control slurries. During operations, these valves are either fully opened or fully closed. Sluice valves must not be used in partially opened positions in high flow velocity as they may cause disc and seat surface erosion. It may also cause vibration and noise.

 

Installation of Sluice Valve

The sluice gate valve is simple in design and operations. Proper installation and regular maintenance of sluice valves ensures long operational life and low maintenance costs.

 

1. 1. Sluice Valve installation can be done in any direction. However, for large-size sluice valve installation, it should be in an upright position for ease of operation.

2. 2. Before installation, the valve body, stem, and the gate should be examined to ensure that damages have not occurred during transit.

3. 3. Pre-installation ensures the Valve is free of debris, corrosion, wrapping material, and dirt.

4. 4. Ensure that the pipeline flanges are parallel and are mating the valve flange without leaving any parallel, angular, or radial gap between the flanges.

5. 5. Insert and tighten the bolts with even pressure. Do not over-tighten the flange bolts or nuts because they may develop undue stress in the valve flanges and body, leading to deformation and malfunction.

6. 6. Post-installation, operate the Valve to check leakages and the position of the Valve. Run check operations several times before commissioning.

7.  

The sluice valve testing should be carried out as per the guidelines/instructions provided by the manufacturer to ascertain that the Valve meets all the parameters.

 

Maintenance of Sluice Valve

The key parameters for checking the sluice valve are:

•  &#; Leakage through the valve seat 

•  &#; Condition of body seat ring/wedge seat ring 

•  &#; Condition of spindle

•  &#; Noise / Vibrations while opening or closing the Valve

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Visual inspection of the seat and wedge pins is advised for the gate that is accessible. Gate operations should be observed to ensure even opening and closing of the gate against the wedge pins.

 

In case the sluice valve is inoperative, a once-in-month operation and maintenance exercise should be undertaken. 

 

Before running the system, ensure that the system is pressurized-free and pressure-free. To check the sluice valve condition, remove the bonnet and the stem, followed by removal of the gate. Check the sluice gate and guide for any damage and wear. Repair or replace components if required. Lubricate stem and stem nut each time maintenance is carried out.

 

Refrain from over-tightening the flange bolts/nuts to make the flanges parallel forcefully. That may develop undue stresses in the valve flange body, leading to their deformation malfunctioning. The sluice valve is also known as the gate valve. It is used in pipelines requiring strict sealing that do not demand frequent switching. In some cases, liquid can flow over the top of a sluice gate in a closed position; this type of gate is known as a weir gate and shouldn&#;t be misunderstood as a sluice gate.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q.1 What are the key features to consider when selecting oil spill equipment?

A. When selecting oil spill equipment, key considerations include its type, capacity, adaptability to various environments, and compliance with regulations. Additionally, it&#;s vital to ensure quick deployment, effectiveness, and accessibility, all while integrating seamlessly with your response plan. Prioritizing these features will enhance your ability to effectively respond to oil spills while minimizing environmental damage.

 

Q.2 What are the benefits of using an oil-water separator machine?

A. An oil-water separator machine provides effective separation of oil and water in industrial processes, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations by preventing oil contamination in wastewater. It helps reduce environmental impact, enhances water quality, and minimizes the risk of fines or legal issues related to pollution.

 

Q.3 How does mechanical screen wastewater treatment work?

A. Mechanical screen wastewater treatment works by using screens with various opening sizes to remove large debris and solids from wastewater. As wastewater flows through these screens, objects like sticks, plastics, and other contaminants are trapped and separated, preventing damage to downstream treatment equipment and ensuring cleaner water for further processing.

Valves are very important components in utility systems. A gate valve, as the name suggests, is a type of valve that is used to control the flow of a liquid using a gate or plate. This type of valve is mainly used to completely stop or start the flow and is not used to regulate the amount of flow unless specifically designed to do so.

The best industrial valve manufacturers follow stringent standards while manufacturing these valves to ensure quality, durability, and performance. Any kind of sub-standard quality may lead to unwanted damage and economic losses. Efficiency and ease of operation are two very important factors when choosing a valve from the plethora of vales available in the market.

 Sluice valve is called by gate valve, look through to know more info about them.

What Is A Gate Valve?

A gate valve is a type of isolation valve used to control the flow of fluids in an industrial system. A sluice refers to an artificial channel aided by a gate to control the flow of water. Sluice valves or industrial gate valves are mainly used for industrial purposes. Its easy and simple mechanics make it one of the most-used valves across various industries. The valve operates by simply moving or lifting up the barrier in the path of flowing liquids. 

It is used along the pipe in a one-directional or bi-directional flow. When fully open, it hardly provides resistance to the flowing liquid, which is one of the major reasons why it is considered very efficient. The shape of the gate maybe be parallel, but in many cases, it is kept in a shape of a wedge. Wedge gate valves help create a better sealant when closed as it applies pressure to the sealing surface and offers better sealing performance.

A gate valve works by manual rotation of a handheld wheel, or it uses an electric or pneumatic actuator. Rotation of the wheel a number of times moves the gate up and down, which controls the flow of liquid or gas inside the valve. Opening the gate provides minimal obstruction to the flow but keeping the gate half open may cause damage as the flowing liquid or gas will exert a large amount of pressure on the plate. Instead of gate valves, globe valves can be used to regulate flow. 

Operation

Although a gate valve or sluice valve is easy to operate, it consists of numerous components fixed together for it to function efficiently. This type of valve consists of the body, a gate, a seat, a bonnet, and in some cases, an actuator which automates the flow. Gate valves can be manufactured using various materials; however, stainless steel is the most preferred since the material is more resistant to changes in temperature or pressure. The various parts of a gate valve are detailed out below.

The Gate

Available in a variety of designs, the gate is the main part of a gate valve. The main design aspect of it is its sealing capacity for specific applications. A gate valve can be classified as a parallel or wedge-shaped valve based on the gate type. The former can further be divided into slab gates, parallel slide gates, and parallel expanding gates. 

Seats

A gate valve has two seats that ensure sealing along with the gate. These seats can be integrated within the valve body, or they can be present in the form of a seat ring. The latter is threaded or pressed into its position and then sealed and welded to the valve body. In situations where the valve is subject to higher temperatures, seat rings are preferred, as they allow for more variation in design.  

The Stem

The gate in a gate valve is lowered or raised when it spins on a threaded system. This can take place via a manual wheel or an actuator. An actuated gate valve can be controlled remotely. Depending on the type of step, the gate valve can be categorized into rising stem and non-rising stem valves. The former is fixed to the gate, whereas the latter is fixed to the actuator and threaded into the gate. 

Bonnets

Bonnets are valve components that ensure the safe sealing of the passage. It is either bolted or screwed to the valve body so that it can be removed for replacement or maintenance. Based on application, various types of valve bonnets include bolt bonnets, screw-in bonnets, union bonnets, and pressure seal bonnets.

Applications 

Gate valves or sluice valves have numerous applications in various industries and have diverse uses in controlling liquid, gas, and even airflow. In environmentally harsh conditions such as high-temperature or high-pressure areas in petrochemical industries, gate valves are the go-to instrument. In such conditions, the material and type of valve play an important role in the performance and efficiency of the valve.

Gate valves also find their use in fire safety systems, where a flanged gate valve is commonly used. Non-rising stem gate valves are used in ships or underground at places where vertical space is limited.  

Types Of Gate Valves

Parallel And Wedge-Shaped Gate Valves

As the name suggests, parallel slide gate valves have a flat, parallel-faced gate that is fitted between two parallel seats. On the other hand, wedge gate valves have a wedge-like gate element. This has ribs on both sides and is guided into position by the slots in the gate body. These wedge guides help transfer axial loads imposed by the medium to the valve body, enable low-friction movement, and prevent the rotation of the wedge whilst moving between open-closed positions. 

Rising Stem And Non-Rising Stem Gate Valves

The primary difference between these two types of gate valves is that they are either fixed (rising) or threaded (non-rising). In rising stem gate valves, the rotating stem rises while the valve opens. However, this valve type is not preferred where the space is limited or the installation is underground. 

Metal Seated And Resilient Seated Gate Valves

Both of these are wedge gate valves. In metal seated valves, the wedge slides toward a groove in the gate valve body and could trap solids that the fluid may contain. Hence, resilient seated valves are preferred where tighter-shut off is required, like in water distribution systems.

In resilient seated valves, a wedge is enclosed within an elastomer which ensures a tight seal. The seating takes place between the valve body and the wedge and hence does not necessitate a groove as in the case of a metal seated gate valve. Since these valves are coated with an elastomer or a resilient material, they offer a higher degree of corrosion protection.

Final Words

Sluice valves and gate valves are different names for the same type of valve. These are the most common type of industrial valves in use. As gate valves are manufactured using various materials and have numerous types, the type of valve must be selected carefully for specific applications. 

Good quality and efficient valves like the ones by Dombor are a great investment as it requires minimal maintenance in the long run, which can save a lot of money. Contact Dombor Valve today for best-in-class valves.