Maintenance and Care for Pneumatic Ball Valves

Aug 15, 2025 Leave a message

Maintenance Procedures:

Pre-use cleaning
Flush pipelines and the valve's flow passage with water before operation to remove residual metal shavings or debris.

Pressure release during maintenance
When closed, the valve retains residual media under pressure. Before maintenance:

Close the upstream shutoff valve

Open the ball valve fully to release internal pressure

Disconnect power and air supply for electric/pneumatic valves.

Seal protection during cleaning

Soft-sealed valves use PTFE seals; hard-sealed valves feature welded metal surfaces

Exercise extreme caution when disassembling to avoid damaging seals.

Pneumatic Ball Valves

Flange bolt tightening sequence
Tighten flange bolts ‌uniformly in a cross pattern‌. Sequential tightening causes uneven force distribution, damaging gaskets and causing leaks.

Cleaning solvent selection

Valve Type Solvent Notes
Gas valves Gasoline Avoid corrosive chemicals
General valves Water/Alcohol Ensure complete solvent evaporation before reassembly

Minor stem seal leakage
Slightly tighten the stem nut until leakage stops. ‌Do not overtighten‌.

Storage requirements

Prevent rust by storing indoors with flange protectors installed

Avoid rain, moisture, and humidity

Re-test valves stored >12 months before use.

 

Key Technical Nuances:

Seal preservation‌: Abrasive media accelerates PTFE seal wear; hard-sealed variants suit particle-laden flows.

Actuator maintenance‌: Regularly lubricate pneumatic cylinders (ISO VG68 grease recommended).

Performance verification‌: Post-storage testing must include seat leakage checks per API 598 standards