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Air Valves Are Used Extensively In Industry
Liquid and air valves are used in a great many industrial applications. Air valves may be found on cryogenic trailers and storage tanks and air separation tanks. These air valves may be designed to regulate the flow of air or other gases or they may fulfil the purpose of an emergency valve, only releasing pressure at a preset value to preserve equipment or ensure safety. The industrial gas and downstream liquefied natural gas (LNG) industries would be typical users of air valves.
Air valves are not always used to regulate the flow of normal air, but also many other cryogenic gases, like oxygen, nitrogen, LNG, argon, ethylene and carbon dioxide. Other speciality gases often make use of complex distribution systems and air valves for blending and distributing gases and these applications make call for the use of either cryogenic or non-cryogenic valves with or without automation.
Air separation plants generate pure gases from air by low-temperature rectification and these plants use many gas and air valves. Air is used as the raw material and its raw components are extracted, such as pure argon, oxygen or nitrogen. These valves play an important part in these air separation facilities to contain, store, distribute and blend gases.
To this end, thermal relief air valves play an important role, because piping and equipment pressures can reach critical levels when liquefied gases expand. These thermal relief air valves bleed off excessive pressure to preserve equipment and safeguard people and working conditions. Relief air valves are available in several sizes, depending on the throat diameter. They are typically designed and factory-set to lift repeatedly within about 2% of the set pressure and to re-seat above 92% of the set pressure.
For more information on air valves and virtually any other type of industrial valve, contact us today.
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