Best Valves for Manufacturing Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
Congratulations! You are now in charge of a new chlorine valve piping project.
Before you celebrate too much, you need to learn about chlorine, chlorinated hydrocarbons (CCH) and the different effects these chemicals have on valve piping.
To help you learn about chlorinated hydrocarbons and chlorine valve piping, we put together a list detailing why certain valves are the best to use with chlorine.
Get ready to learn everything about chlorine piping and valves.
What Are Chlorinated Hydrocarbons?
The chlorinated hydrocarbons definition is the chemical compounds of chlorine, hydrogen and carbon atoms. Although a chemical, we use chlorinated hydrocarbon (CCH) to create products such as pharmaceuticals, plastics, and solvents. We also use forms of chlorine to refrigerate food, keep our homes and cars cool and disinfect our drinking water and swimming pools.
You take risks when you use chlorine-based chemicals in piping and valves. Expansion is one of those risks. Expansion occurs when liquid increases and spreads.
Another risk is having a fire or explosion due to chlorine being an oxidizer. For example, the chlorine-based compound, nitrogen trichloride, is very explosive. To avoid fires or explosions, it is vital that you oxygen clean the valves of any oil or grease residue.
When you mix liquid chlorine with chemicals like ammonia and other acids, you run the risk of releasing toxic gases.
Although chlorine itself is not corrosive, the liquid form of chlorine is hygroscopic, which means it attracts water and moisture. Because highly corrosive hydrochloric (HCI) and hypochlorous (HCIO) acids form when liquid or gas chlorine combines with water, corrosion is another risk. Damage to Teflon surfaces is also a risk you take when dealing with chlorine use in valves. This is because when water combines with liquid or gas chlorine, it can form ferric chloride (CI3Fe). Ferric chloride is notorious for damaging Teflon.
Although we do not manufacture valves, if you are working with chlorine and hydrocarbons, it is vital to know which types of valves work well with these chemicals and which ones do not. There are 3 key types of valves you should know.
1. Globe Valves
Globe Valves are the best option for someone who works with chlorine to use because these valves can shut off tightly. Globe valves also have a multi-turn operation so that they can effectively open and close slowly.
Finally, they have bi-directional seating. This means they can turn off in both directions without trapping liquid inside the valve.
2. Ball Valves
Ball valves have a special stem seal design that gives them the ability to shut off tightly. You will find them in either full-bore or reduced bore. This means that they can either have an opening as wide as the piping itself or less wide than the piping.
When using ball valves with chlorine, release pressure from them at all times. This is so that any trapped chlorine in the valves do not expand.
To prompt the release of pressure in ball valves, have a hole bored into the ball and self-relieving pressure seats. You can also use single-segmental ball valves.
Make sure to fully-line valves with fluoropolymer so that the metal and chlorine do not touch. That way none of the dangerous risks associated with using chlorine in valves occur.
3. Butterfly Valves
Soft-seated butterfly valves are a great choice to use when dealing with chlorine service in large pipes. This is because soft-seated butterfly valves have fluoropolymer lining in them as an essential tool. This is because fluoropolymer lining helps keep chlorine from touching the metal in butterfly valves. As a result, high-risk situations will likely occur less frequently.
Which Valve Is Right for You?
Although sometimes dangerous, chlorine and/or chlorinated hydrocarbons are essential for us to have to maintain a clean and efficient valve and piping system. As a result, it is our duty as engineers and manufacturers of chlorine to take all the proper precautions necessary to prevent chlorine service risks of toxic gases, expansion, corrosion and/or fire/explosion.
To learn more about industries that utilize chlorine and hydrocarbons, check out the chlorine section under news on our website.