Discover how engineering excellence and heritage has driven Severn’s OCT TOV Butterfly Valve to deliver unmatched reliability in Seawater environments.
Severn’s research & development team has designed a Butterfly Valve that solves the problem of galvanic corrosion and meets strict fire test standards. Utilising the over 60 years of engineering excellence, the team of technical experts achieved this by using Severn’s patented Oblique Cone Technology (OCT). The OCT-SW takes this patented technology to the next level by eliminating the need for graphite in the seal and maintaining firesafe capability.
What is galvanic corrosion and its costly effects?
The impact of galvanic corrosion on critical assets due to seawater process conditions is an enduring problem for offshore oilfields. At best, it increases the workload and repairs associated with planned shutdowns. At worst it can result in rapid or unexpected damage, leading to unplanned or emergency shutdowns. Either way, it is a costly problem which harms efficiency, putting additional pressure on plant operating costs. However, Severn have utilised their engineering heritage, research and development & repair intelligence knowledge to develop a valve that deals with the issue of galvanic corrosion head on.
Why does galvanic corrosion occur? The cause of galvanic corrosion (also referred to as ‘dissimilar metal’ or ‘bimetallic’ corrosion) is an electrochemical reaction between two different conductive materials in close proximity. It results in one – the least noble of the two – being preferentially corroded. To combat this risk, the general rule is ‘do not mix metals’. However, when it comes to the design and development of assets for harsh offshore environments, things are rarely that straightforward.
Modern critical safety systems used on offshore sites are often highly sophisticated
to cope with the extreme natural conditions and industrial challenges with which they must contend. They come with extreme technical demands but must manage physical ones too; systems that need to feed water to combat fires must be durable enough to cope with the corrosive effects of the sea. Seawater service valves play an integral role in the process and their ability to either supply or isolate sections of the water line is a vital safety feature. Therefore, eliminating galvanic corrosion while maintaining firesafe credentials has been an enduring challenge for the industry.
In recent years, the use of graphite sealing technology has surged. Graphite’s extreme range of properties and characteristics makes it an ideal material in many ways. It is soft, flexible, and easy to cut, but it has high heat resistance and is almost inert. However, it is also the only non-metal that can conduct electricity. Furthermore, its nobility exceeds that of noble metals including stainless steel, bronze, and titanium. Yet it is often paired with these materials in valve manufacture, in the form of seals, packings and gaskets. From a galvanic corrosion perspective, graphite has become not only the solution to problems but can often be the cause.
Traditionally, Triple Offset Butterfly Valves have used graphite materials in their construction, which can cause galvanic corrosion in seawater applications. This is a problem because it can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the valve’s sealing components, compromising safety and leading to potential costly unplanned downtime.
By working closely with end users and operators, Severn has recognized this issue, and with its significant engineering heritage and technical expertise, has designed a long-term solution. The Severn team of engineering experts designed a valve that either replaces the graphite components completely or stops them from contacting the line media. This significantly reduces the risk of galvanic corrosion in day-to-day operations and ensures the highest level of safety. Ensuring you achieve safe operations and minimal downtime.
The Oblique Cone Technology (OCT) Seawater (SW) Triple Offset (TOV) Butterfly valve is a revolutionary type of valve designed primarily for use in saline applications, such as offshore oil and gas operations. These valves play a pivotal part in safety systems, as they play a crucial role in firewater systems. Due to Severn’s engineering heritage and technical expertise in the oil and gas operations sector, this valve has been designed with over 60 years of engineering excellence ensuring it helps the end user achieve their core remit of safe operations and minimum downtime.
Severn has developed a hybrid polymer metallic seal that moves away from the use of graphite laminates. By utilising a primary metallic seal with a secondary polymer seal, not only have Seven removed the graphite from the seal but have additionally increased the valves isolation sealing capabilities and maintained the firesafe performance crucial for such critical applications. This coupled with isolating any graphite gaskets and packings from encountering the line media means that at no point during the normal operation of the valve do the graphite and seawater mix, eliminating the risk of galvanic corrosion and the costly effects it can have on production.
In addition to addressing the corrosion problem, Severn’s Butterfly Valves also meet important fire test standards such as API 6FA, API 607, and ISO 10497 accreditations. As such the OCT Valve is certified fire-safe and can be relied upon in critical emergencies for the end user and operators, ensuring safe operations and minimal downtime.
The team also took steps to ensure the valve design could not generate a spark and risk starting a fire itself. They followed the ISO/IEC 80079-36:2018 ATEX standard and ensured that no static charge could build within the valve. This additional element of care renders the new OCT-SW valve design suitable for a wide range of applications, beyond seawater service further emphasising the versatility of the valve design.
The OCT-SW can be manufactured from corrosion-resistant materials such as Aluminium Bronze, Super Duplex, and Titanium, with the added knowledge that anti-blowout protection comes as standard. Available in standard and non-standard face to face dimensions and various body styles such as lugged and double flanged, the valve can be easily retrofitted into existing pipeline spaces and is an ideal upgrade when operators are experiencing issues with galvanic corrosion.
Severn are breaking tradition with the innovative OCT Butterfly Valve and lifecycle enhancement service.
In the fast-paced industrial landscape, the emphasis on sustainability and cost-effectiveness has never been greater. Severn’s Oblique Cone Technology (OCT) Triple Offset (TOV) Butterfly Valve is at the forefront of a new era in valve technology, where the focus shifts from immediate replacements to intelligent lifecycle enhancement and repair strategies. This paradigm shift not only promotes sustainable valve maintenance but also ensures safe operations, reduced downtime, helping you achieve your core remits.
Lifecycle Enhancement: Prolonging Valve Longevity
The traditional approach to valve maintenance often involves a “replace-first” mentality. However, Severn’s OCT TOV Butterfly Valve challenges this norm by offering a comprehensive lifecycle enhancement program. Through cutting-edge innovative engineering and materials, the OCT TOV Butterfly Valve is designed to withstand harsh operating conditions, ensuring a longer lifespan with its patented Oblique Cone Technology Triple Offset capabilities for both isolation and control applications.
By prioritizing lifecycle enhancement, industries can optimise their assets, reduce overall operational costs, and minimise the environmental footprint associated with the manufacturing and disposal of new valves.
Repair Intelligence: Smart Solutions for Complex Issues
The OCT TOV Butterfly Valve affirms the concept of Severn’s repair intelligence as the valves are designed with modular components, facilitating easy disassembly and reassembly during repairs. This not only reduces maintenance costs but also minimises the need for complete valve replacements, contributing to a more sustainable and cost-effective approach to industrial operations.
Sustainable Valve Maintenance: A Green Approach
Severn’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond the valve’s design. The OCT TOV Butterfly Valve promotes a circular economy by encouraging refurbishment and reconditioning of components. With our expert team of service engineers based globally, we can retrofit, service and repair any of our Butterfly valves on site if performance has dropped or specification or operating conditions have changed, this ensures production downtime is kept to a minimum.
Furthermore, sustainable valve maintenance aligns with global initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. By extending the life of industrial equipment, companies can decrease their carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and disposal, contributing to a greener and more environmentally responsible future.
Safe Operations and Reduced Downtime: The Ultimate Value Proposition
The OCT TOV Butterfly Valve prioritise safety through rigorous testing and compliance with industry standards such as API 598. By implementing repair intelligence and lifecycle enhancement strategies, Severn can ensure the continued reliability and safety of their valves and valve systems.
Moreover, the ability to address issues proactively minimise unexpected costly downtime. This not only enhances operational efficiency but also safeguards against potential safety hazards, ensuring a secure working environment for personnel.
Environmental Impact: A Positive Footprint for Future Generations
By choosing repair over replacement and embracing Severn’s lifecycle enhancement, industries using Severn’s OCT TOV Butterfly Valve actively contribute to reducing the environmental impact of their operations. Through sustainable valve maintenance practices, companies can align with global environmental goals, demonstrating corporate responsibility and leadership in their respective sectors.
Severn’s OCT TOV Butterfly Valve signifies a paradigm shift in the industrial valve landscape. By championing lifecycle enhancement, repair intelligence, and sustainable valve maintenance, this product offers not just cutting-edge technology but a comprehensive solution for industries seeking a balance between operational efficiency, environmental responsibility, and cost-effectiveness. In a world where every decision impacts the planet, choosing to repair, not replace, is a step towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
Remote inspection technology gains momentum.
Adoption of Severn Oculi, our connected system for the remote inspection of valves, is going from strength to strength. As well as assessing valve condition in the field, the digital system can be used to facilitate remote witness testing.
Severn Glocon Abu Dhabi recently conducted a full pressure, seat leakage and functional test on a 2- 9/16 API 10,000 globe control valve for ADNOC, with the process witnessed virtually by the client team. Various work scopes have been witness-tested in this way in recent weeks to demonstrate the technology to our clients.
The SVS team has also been holding internal video conferences to introduce the technology and its benefits to the wider Group. If you would like to participate in a future demonstration, please contact support@svsi.ae.
With the global pandemic response still restricting movements and international travel, remote inspection technology gains momentum as Severn Oculi is proving to be a valuable tool. It’s set to deliver a good return on investment, improving cost efficiency for Severn and our customers alike.
Severn manufactures and supports high quality valves for the energy industries. Its control, choke and small bore subsea valves are pre-eminent in the global market, underpinning the reliability and high performance of business-critical client infrastructure.
Severn’s global reach, technical prowess, and collaborative approach – all founded upon a heritage of British engineering excellence – help to assure production continuity for clients and reduce the prospect of costly downtime.
Its understanding of the life-cycle of assets positions Severn to offer end-to-end engineering solutions, enabling clients to meet their core imperatives: safe operations and minimum downtime.