Slurry Valves in Mineral Processing
What is essential to mineral processing, no matter what you’re processing? Slurry valves! They are mainly used to isolate and control operating parameters. Here’s some useful information about this product.
What is the role of a slurry valve?
As you likely already know, slurry valves control and manage flow rate. They also play a critical role in optimizing the operating time of the processes in which they are used.
How do you select the right slurry valve?
Selecting the right slurry valve for your needs is crucial. The right slurry valve can increase uptime and production. On the other hand, selecting the wrong slurry valve can mean reduced production and increased maintenance. Not all slurry valves are created equal, and valve selection can make or break production goals for companies that use slurries in their processes.
How do you choose the right product?
There is no quick answer to this question. In fact, it depends on the model used, which depends on the mode of operation, available space, solid-liquid ratio and the type of product to be processed. You also need to analyze the particle size, solid content, volumetric flow, pipe size, pump capacity and circuit pressure before you make a decision. You can contact one of our experts to help you choose the right slurry valve for your needs.
What is the number one enemy of slurry valves?
Wear from abrasion and slurry flow rate are the main enemies of slurry valves. To minimize wear, it is imperative to select the proper valve design, using a digital model of the system to inform your decision.
Routine maintenance and inspection of your slurry valves
To reduce downtime, regular inspection is your best friend. Follow this routine inspection process to optimize your valve’s lifespan and performance.
1. Periodically ensure that all fasteners are secure and haven’t vibrated loose.
2. Observe how the valve moves during normal operations.
3. During a plant shutdown or maintenance stop, visually inspect the plug, seat, shaft guides and guide bars for wear and damage. The inspection hatch may be used for this (mounting a mirror on a rod and using a flashlight/torch will help here).
4. The following are indicators that the valve needs attention:
- Poor controllability
- The valve action is no longer smooth
- When closed, the valve passes too much product downstream
- Air is leaking from the actuator, positioner or piping
We hope this blog article was useful. Have questions or need advice? Contact us!
We will be pleased to help you optimize your mineral processing operation.