Written by Folko Nagel
September 23, 2019

Refrigeration in Oil & Gas Industry

Requirements are not very high in the regular refrigeration market, which includes supermarkets and industrial applications. But things are different in the Petrochemical as well as Oil & Gas Industry. As an expert for industrial valves, I often notice that the demand for high-quality valves has increased significantly in these industries. But what is the reason? Let`s find it out!

Strict environmental regulations are the new norm

The world is facing stricter regulations on environmental protection and human safety. Compressors and other refrigeration equipment must now have drain valves. It must be possible to isolate the refrigeration equipment. Isolation lowers the risk of refrigerant leaks and other hazard situations.

If an organization is using isolation valves continuously, it must have a fixed handwheel. If there’s no handwheel, it must have some other manual device to enable the operation of the valve. Branches of the ammonia main should have isolation valves. Technicians can use these valves to isolate sections of the system. Sometimes it’s necessary to isolate a section from the main.

Ammonia as a refrigerant

The use of ammonia as a refrigerant is increasing. This increase is due to restrictions on the use of halogenated hydrocarbons. While ammonia is cheap and does not threaten the ozone layer, it can be dangerous. An indoor leakage can cause an explosion, and the gas is also very toxic to aquatic life. Prolonged exposure can cause life-threatening health effects or death in humans. One-third of leaks occur through a pressure relief valve. Most leaks are due to process and equipment failures.

It is essential to install pressure relief valves. These valves protect the pressurized parts of a refrigeration system. The valves prevent system pressure from exceeding the maximum operating pressure. The refrigerant released by such a valve must go to a place where it poses no risk to people or the environment. In most cases, this dilemma is easily solved by placing the end of a relief pipe high enough above the roof. It should be as far away as possible from the air intakes.

Gauge, drain & needle valve for the refrigeration market

AS-Schneider has developed a gauge, drain & needle valve for the refrigeration market. This valve has the highest quality and safety specifications.

The gauge, drain & needle valve is suitable for NH3 and CO2. It is also useful for all common refrigerants in corrosive and harsh environment up to 420 bar — 3.1 material certificate as an option available, exotic materials on request.

The gauge, drain & needle valve has an indirect-acting two-part non-rotating, self-adjusting spindle tip. This tip secures a high-quality sealing, and it has a long lifetime. The anti-blowout backseat construction guarantees the highest safety. For TA-Luft and ISO 15848 FE maximum leak tightness demands, pls contact our factory.

The tamper-proof and lockable construction prevents unauthorized or accidental operating. It can be used in a Safety Integrity Level System.

This new valve complies with the most stringent environmental and safety standards. It also contributes to reducing operating costs.