A Simple Tip for Avoiding Accidental Valve Operation
ball valve
There are many drain valves around the plant site. These valves can be installed at equipments or pipe lines. Generally, they are operated only at certain conditions such as for draining condensate and depressurized equipment or piping line. In this case, we talk about ball valve with valve handle type as shown by the image on left.
However, these drain valves may be operated accidentally, hit by plant operators or misoperation, which potentially creating an emergency situation. As an example, if the drained material is highly flammable liquid.
Then, how to avoid such problem? Actually, it is very simple, i.e. by locking the valve handle so that it remains closed even though hit by someone or when someone try to open it.
Another way that you can try is by removing the valve handles. But if you try to do this, you will be in big problem when you need to open these valves quickly as required by the operation.
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Tags: ball valve, pipe isolation, valve leak, valve leakage, valve lock, valve misoperation, valve safety
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April 22nd, 2010 at 11:53 am
Well said. But the number of such valves should be optimum otherwise it will become a operation problem and its importance will be lost.
One more thing. All these locks should have one master key so that they can be open as and when required.
Now next question: How to decide where to place such valve?
April 23rd, 2010 at 3:16 pm
Lock valves that must be closed in normal operation. And don’t imagine lock with key. Use simple stoppage that hindered valves to be opened. I think that’s very simple.