Trelleborg supports subsea expert to launch rotary gate valve
Published: 19 December, 2018
Trelleborg Sealing Solutions worked in partnership with LB Bentley, a specialist in creating small bore subsea valves for subsea applications, to support the company in its development of its medium duty rotary gate valve.
The new gate valve incorporates a custom seal that demonstrates pioneering stem sealing technology that reduces the ‘risk of contamination and failure’. The seal was specifically engineered for this compact and robust subsea valve that has reportedly already achieved field-proven success.
As subsea oil and gas exploration becomes increasingly challenging, LB Bentley realised a highly specialised gate valve that met a wide range of extreme working pressures and operating temperatures, was needed. To this end, it developed its innovative medium duty rotary gate valve, which has minimal moving parts and a time-saving quarter-turn mechanism that can be operated manually or with hydraulics. Even in the event of over-torque the internal parts of the valve cannot be damaged and will continue to rotate and function as normal.
Reduced the risk of contamination and failure
Antoine Charrier, a key account manager at Trelleborg Sealing Solutions, said: “Throughout the process we constantly had to think about the safety issues and challenges that are frequently faced when working with vital subsea equipment. We pride ourselves on innovation and relished this opportunity to work with LB Bentley, developing this innovative stem sealing technology that reduces the risk of contamination and failure.”
Trelleborg developed a custom version of its Turcon Variseal MC with high pressure extrusion resistance and back pressure protection in NORSOK M-710 compliant for subsea use, Trelleborg’s Turcon Glyd Ring T was selected as a contaminant exclusion seal.
The standard subsea rotary gate valve was introduced into the market by LB Bentley in 1998. Since then it has gained universal acceptance throughout the industry. It has become the product of choice globally, with many customers preferring and trusting this design over traditional needle, ball and slab type gate valve designs.
Continuous improvement
Noelle Sears, R&D design engineer at LB Bentley said: “We work hard to meet our customers’ needs and as we strive towards continuous improvement, the qualification status of our products is constantly developing. This enables us to offer an expanding range of fully qualified products and we’re immensely proud of the medium duty rotary gate valve that Trelleborg helped us develop.”
The simplicity of its operation has proven it to be highly reliable in service, enabling LB Bentley to provide a SIL 2 rated product with an extensive range of features and accessories.
A wide range of sizes, pressures, materials and interfaces are available from 3/8″ through to 1″ nominal bore, up to 15,000psi (1,034 bar) in both FF and HH trims. Designs are qualified to API 6A 20th Edition and API 17D 2nd Edition for the temperature range -29degC to 150degC, to a water depth of 10,000ft.
Image caption - LB Bentley R&D design engineer Noelle Sears with Trelleborg key account manager Antoine Charrier.
