Gate valves play a vital role in key areas such as industrial fluid control systems, building water supply and drainage, and even the energy and chemical industries, responsible for opening and closing media and regulating flow. As a reliable valve brand, WEIZIDOM’s products are renowned for their excellent sealing, corrosion resistance, and long service life. However, even the highest-quality equipment requires scientific and meticulous maintenance. A standardized and timely maintenance process is essential to ensure WEIZIDOM gate valves are always in optimal working condition, extend their service life, and avoid production interruptions or safety accidents caused by valve failures.
WEIZIDOM gate valve maintenance is not limited to repairs after a failure occurs; it is a systematic, preventative process throughout the valve’s lifecycle. Maintenance can be broadly categorized into three levels: daily inspections, scheduled maintenance, and shutdown overhauls.
Daily inspections are the first line of defense in maintenance. Operators should regularly conduct quick inspections by looking, listening, and feeling.
Inspect: Check the valve stem and stuffing box for any visible leaks. For valves like WEIZIDOM that use high-quality packing (such as graphite or PTFE), a small amount of seepage is sometimes acceptable and can be used to lubricate the valve stem. However, if dripping or linear leakage occurs, it indicates that the gland needs to be tightened or the packing needs to be replaced. Also, inspect the valve body for severe corrosion or paint peeling.
Listen: Listen for any unusual grinding, banging, or harsh noises during valve opening and closing. Normal operation should be smooth and steady. Abnormal noises may indicate loose internal parts, foreign matter in the gate guide, or poor lubrication.
Touch: While ensuring safety, feel the valve body to check for abnormally high temperatures and any unusual heaviness or sticking of the actuator (such as the handwheel).
Develop a reasonable regular maintenance schedule based on the frequency of valve use and operating environment (such as media characteristics, temperature, and pressure).
Cleaning and Lubrication: Maintaining the cleanliness of the valve and its actuator is crucial. Regularly remove dirt, rust, and debris from the surface. The exposed portion of the valve stem must be regularly cleaned and lubricated with an appropriate amount of grease (such as silicone grease or specialized stem grease) to reduce friction and corrosion and ensure smooth operation. Gearboxes and electric actuators should also be regularly inspected and lubricated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Bolt Tightening and Packing Adjustment: Check and confirm that the valve body bolts and the packing gland bolts are properly tightened. If minor leakage is detected in the stuffing box, try lightly and evenly tightening the nuts on both sides of the gland (avoid overtightening on one side to avoid deflecting the valve stem). If tightening is ineffective, plan to replace the packing.
Operational Flexibility Test: Regularly cycle valves that are constantly in the fully open or fully closed position, typically at least once per quarter. This prevents the gate and seat from “seizing” due to prolonged inactivity and allows the sealing surfaces to self-grind, maintaining sealing performance.
If a valve exhibits severe internal leakage, is extremely difficult to operate, or has been in operation for an extended period, it should be disassembled and inspected during a system shutdown.
Safety Isolation: Before repairing, ensure that the upstream and downstream sides of the valve are completely isolated (installing a blind plate is the safest option), the system pressure is completely relieved, the media is drained, and cleaning and replacement are complete to ensure safe operation.
Disassembly and Inspection: Carefully disassemble the valve, taking care to protect the sealing surfaces. Inspect the sealing surfaces between the gate and seat for pitting, scratches, or severe wear; inspect the valve stem for bends, corrosion, or thread damage; and inspect the interior of the valve body for signs of corrosion or erosion.
Cleaning and Repair: Thoroughly clean all parts using a dedicated cleaning agent. Minor sealing surface damage can be repaired by manual or mechanical grinding with a lapping paste. Severe damage requires replacement of the entire valve core or seat assembly. Genuine WEIZIDOM parts ensure optimal compatibility and sealing performance.
Replacement and Assembly: Replace all worn seals, O-rings, and packing. Reassemble in the reverse order of disassembly, ensuring accurate alignment of all components. Apply a suitable lubricant to the valve stem, sealing surfaces, and other areas during assembly. Finally, perform a standard pressure seal test to verify the repair.
In short, implementing systematic and institutionalized maintenance on WEIZIDOM gate valves is a low-cost, high-return investment. It not only effectively reduces the risk of unplanned downtime and ensures continuous and stable production processes, but also maximizes valve performance, significantly extending the life of the equipment, and laying a solid foundation for safe production, cost reduction, and efficiency improvement.
