{"id":1745,"date":"2023-03-09T02:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-09T01:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/as-schneider.blog\/?p=1745"},"modified":"2023-02-06T14:07:47","modified_gmt":"2023-02-06T13:07:47","slug":"test-installation-of-dbb-piping-ball-valve-at-gas-storage-facility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/as-schneider.blog\/2023\/03\/09\/test-installation-of-dbb-piping-ball-valve-at-gas-storage-facility\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical test installation of a DBB Piping Ball Valve at a gas storage facility"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
One of the things that I enjoy the most about my job is discussing new improvement opportunities with clients. Situations like that push me to engineer viable solutions that solve operational setbacks, so they can enjoy more reliability and safety at work. And that was what happened when I designed the practical test installation procedure I’m about to share. It was for a double block and bleed (DBB) ball valve installed in a gas storage facility.<\/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 While doing a routine checkup at a German natural gas storage facility, the maintenance supervisor shared with me his great aspiration of seeing all bypass lines modernized. At the time, he was still unsure about the right valve solution for the facility. Yet, he was well informed on the financial commitment implied. The stakes were high. Valves would need to be a perfect fit for his plans to be greenlighted. And not only for safety and supply chain reasons but also to justify the investment.<\/p> As days passed, our conversation did not leave my mind, even though I was already taking on other duties. I wanted to support my customer’s goal by envisioning how AS-Schneider could embrace this challenge as a service partner.<\/p> Then, unexpectedly, over a delicious plate of “Kieler Sprotten” (German smoked fish) – which I highly recommend to anyone visiting northern Germany-, I found a proposal to share with my customer. A test plan that could get his plans rolling. He was enthusiastic about 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 After thoroughly detailed exchanges with my natural gas storage customer, we jointly decided that a field test with a DBB piping ball valve under real conditions would be useful.<\/p> We worked together to define the following key data for the practical test:<\/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 To begin with, the valve had to meet these specifications:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t Additionally, the valve had to comply with the following standards:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t We also defined the following bypass installation settings and testing conditions:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t To avoid the extremely loud noise\u2014typical of blowing natural gas above 100 bars into the atmosphere\u2014we had no choice but to add a modification to the piping section. Therefore, we dismantle a short pipe section to mount a silencer directly on the outlet side of the DBB valve\u2014prior to the DBB installation.<\/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 At last, we established the test preparation procedure. The test phase would last 12 months.<\/p> During this period, the DBB piping ball valve had to be regularly subject to a leakage test and performance follow-ups by the maintenance supervisor.<\/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 Before starting, the proposal had to be presented to the maximum authorization levels at the natural gas storage facility for approval. Once greenlit, it was time to bring it to life.<\/p> The installation consisted of installing the DBB piping ball valve in the bypass natural gas of the first compressor stage’s cooling line. The features specified during the test design stage were successfully met. The entire process lasted around 335 days. All the fieldwork was handled by the operator.<\/p> AS-Schneider was on site throughout the totality of the test installation. Our responsibility was to supply the DBB valve and provide the technical support necessary to ensure a seamless completion. For us, this experience went beyond lending our expertise in the field. It was also about building a long-term, trusting partnership with our client.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t The operation phase for this trial lasted nearly one year. For overall consistency, we will share the results in two periods, start and end.<\/p> Every few weeks, the DBB valve underwent routine inspections while in operation so that a short blow-out could occur each time. The medium was dry gas at 160 bar. The tests took place at the original valve location. No issues ever surfaced that could jeopardize safety.<\/p> Still, as with any trial, there are positive and negative aspects to notice, whether to make amends or reinforce future installations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\tPaving the way for new solutions <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Test design<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Valve specifications:<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Standard specifications:<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Bypass installation settings and testing conditions:<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Test preparation procedure:<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Test installation<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Start of practice operation<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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possibilities between the individual shut-offs.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td>