Damaged butterfly valves in critical applications no longer have to result in unplanned downtime, following the development of an in situ emergency sealant technology recently tested by Saudi Aramco.
The Sealant Pressure Injection Reserve Endurance System (SPIRES) mitigates risk of leakage following damage to a butterfly valve’s primary seal caused by abrasive particles. Saudi Aramco’s validation testing provides assurance of its effectiveness prior to wider adoption.
Devised by Severn Leeds, a Severn Glocon Group company, SPIRES is a progressive technology that overcomes the challenge of resealing damaged valves without a cavity.
The solution incorporates an emergency sealant system as a fundamental design feature of butterfly valves. Should the primary seal fail, a secondary sealant is injected into a runner behind the disc to compensate for any seat leakage when the valve is set to ‘closed’ position. Tests showed that bubble-tight shut-off can be achieved, even if the seat is badly damaged, avoiding the need for unplanned downtime.
