{"id":1216,"date":"2021-03-05T02:09:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-05T01:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/as-schneider.blog\/?p=1216"},"modified":"2021-06-16T04:38:10","modified_gmt":"2021-06-16T02:38:10","slug":"impact-revision-of-the-taluft-emission-standard-on-the-valve-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/as-schneider.blog\/2021\/03\/05\/impact-revision-of-the-taluft-emission-standard-on-the-valve-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Impact of the revision of the TA-Luft on the valve industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
The revised TA-Luft refers to ISO 15848-1 to <\/strong>protect the general public and the neighborhood. And to prevent harmful effects on the environment caused by air pollution. All that in order to achieve a high level of protection for the environment as a whole.<\/strong><\/p> In my blog post, I would like to explain what impact this change will have on the valve industry.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t I can still remember very well when many years ago the TA-Luft 1986 edition was replaced by the 2002 edition and the VDI 2440 was added as a test specification.<\/p> Our qualified TA-Luft sealing systems could not meet the requirements of VDI 2440 and new sealing systems had to be developed.<\/p> The big challenge at that time was that the leakage rate had to be determined even at an elevated temperature and up to the nominal pressure.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Unfortunately, VDI 2440 does not contain a concrete test process. That leaves a lot of room for interpretation for different test processes. Yet, our TA-Luft valves are already tested and approved with full temperature cycles at that time. Cause the critical point – at least for PTFE seals – is directly after cooling.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Thus, some manufacturers have only done the tests at room temperature and elevated temperature without cooling back down to room temperature. An examination of such a valve on our in-house test station showed that this valve did indeed have a gross leak after cooling. And that despite being confirmed according to TA-Luft.<\/p> Due to the soft requirements of VDI 2440 and the thus different prevailing test processes, the TA-Luft valves are not comparable with each other. And it is always advisable to look at the test report for the corresponding certificate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t In 2006, ISO 15848-1 was published. When I saw this standard for the first time, I was immediately hooked. At last the test process and test conditions were precisely regulated and every manufacturer had to test his valve in the same way. Thus, the valves were suddenly comparable with each other.<\/p> In 2011, we were proud to have the first valves approved by T\u00dcV S\u00dcD in accordance with ISO 15848-1. And in some cases even in the highest tightness class A and the highest endurance class CO3.<\/p> The importance of this ISO standard has steadily increased worldwide. And is now an established set of regulations when it comes to fugitive emissions.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p> I would now like to briefly discuss the TA-Luft and the essential differences between the two standards “VDI 2440” and “ISO 15848-1”.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t TA-Luft*1<\/sup> is the usual abbreviation for the First General Administrative Regulation on the Federal Emission Control Act*2<\/sup> from 24 July 2002.<\/p> Everyone in the valve industry knows the term TA-Luft in connection with particularly tight and high-quality valves.<\/p> This regulation is 239 pages long and serves to protect the general public and the neighborhood. And to prevent harmful effects on the environment caused by air pollution. All that in order to achieve a high level of protection for the environment as a whole.<\/p> Only a small chapter describes the requirements for the spindle sealing of valves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Shut-off devices<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Spindle feedthroughs of valves and gate valves have to be sealed by bellows and downstream safety stuffing box or equivalent means when handling liquid organic substances containing …..<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Shut-off devices<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t ’02 edition<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t For the sealing of spindle feedthroughs of shut-off or control devices, such as valves or gate valves, Sealing systems are to be regarded as equivalent if the temperature-specific leakage rates are complied with in the verification procedure in accordance with the VDI 2440 standard (November 2000 edition).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The first TA-Luft was published in the 1964 edition, at that time as a trade regulation.<\/p> It was then mandated under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) with the 1974, 1986 and 2002 editions.<\/p> The TA-Luft is currently being revised again. And a cabinet draft from December 2020 is now available for the parliamentary procedure.<\/p> The publication of the new administrative regulation is planned for the beginning of 2021 and only the Bundesrat still has to approve it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\tWhen I heard that the new TA-Luft will refer to ISO 15848-1, I was thrilled. Especially because we have already approved many valves in accordance with ISO 15848-1.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t According to the cabinet draft of December 16, 2020, the chapter for shut-off or control devices looks as follows:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Shut-off or control devices <\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t from draft bill 12\/16\/2020<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t From [xx\/xx\/xxxx] onwards, shut-off or control devices, such as valves, gate valves or ball valves, shall be used which comply with the leakage rate LB<\/sub> (\u2264 10-4<\/sup> mg\/s\u2219m) related to the stem circumference at pressures up to \u2264 40 bar and design temperatures \u2264 200 \u00b0C and the leakage rate LC<\/sub> (\u2264 10-2<\/sup> mg\/s\u2219m) related to the stem circumference at pressures up to \u2264 40 bar and design temperatures > 200 \u00b0C for the test medium helium or other suitable test media, for example methane. For pressures > 40 bar and design temperatures \u2264 200 \u00b0C, the leakage rate LC<\/sub> (\u2264 10-2<\/sup> mg\/s\u2219m) related to the stem circumference has to be met and should be achieved at > 200 \u00b0C.<\/p> Seals of spindle feedthroughs designed as high-quality sealed metallic bellows with downstream safety stuffing box meet the requirements of the leakage rate LB<\/sub> without separate verification.<\/p> Otherwise, DIN EN ISO 15848-1 (November 2015 edition) or other proven equivalent test or measurement methods, such as the helium leakage test or the purge gas method, shall be used to verify the specific leakage rate of the sealing system and for testing as well as its evaluation and qualification.<\/p> The requirements for testing and maintenance of the sealing systems must be specified in the management instructions to ensure a permanent seal tightness.<\/p> Existing shut-off or control devices for \u2026.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Valves with bellows and safety stuffing box automatically comply with TA-Luft.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The qualification is no longer carried out according to VDI 2440, but according to ISO 15848-1. ISO 15848-1 distinguishes between 3 tightness classes (A, B, or C), but it does not specify which class must be achieved. The tightness class is determined by testing the valve.No TA-Luft rulebook for the test process<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
TA-Luft results are not comparable<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
ISO standard 15848-1 should remedy the situation <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
What is TA-Luft?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Requirements for the spindle sealing of valves<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
1. high-quality sealed metallic bellows with downstream safety stuffing box\u00a0 \u00a0or<\/em>
2. equivalent sealing systems
… have to be used.<\/p>Revision of the TA-Luft<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Planned changes for valves and impact on valve industry<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Extract of the new administrative regulation<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Summary of the new administrative regulation<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
1) Bellows valves \n<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
2) Qualification of the valves <\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
This means that the test process is exactly specified and the tested valves can be directly compared with each other.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t3) Classification according to ISO 15848-1<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
3.1) Tightness class<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The new TA-Luft therefore sets the following specifications, depending on the pressure and the temperature:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t