Custom Gate Valves for Port Talbot Steelworks

THE PROBLEM

Legacy gate valves in the steelworks’ private water distribution network had become unreliable over time, unable to maintain a watertight seal and degrading beyond the point of being economical to repair.

Replacement valves were needed within a very short timeframe to facilitate a period of planned maintenance at the site that would ensure the continual and uninterrupted operation of the steelworks’ furnaces. Due to the high level of disruption and financial losses that unplanned downtime would present, a fast and direct valve replacement without the need for on-site amendments was crucial to the project.

The legacy valves’ non-standard face-to-face dimensions and non-standard flange drillings made sourcing suitable replacements difficult, so the site’s specialist mechanical engineering contractor approached T-T Flow® for a custom solution.

THE SOLUTION

T-T Flow®’s experienced design engineers delivered two DN750 wedge gate valves rated to 16 Bar, imperially drilled to BS 10 Table E to match existing pipework flanges and directly mounted with site-specific extension spindles and bevel gearboxes for safe, ergonomic operation.

The gate valves were fabricated in carbon steel, coated in a WRAS-listed epoxy coating for corrosion resistance and longevity. Precision-machined weld-deposit-overlay bronze seats ensure optimal sealing performance, while an acid-resistant, non-rising stainless-steel stem with rolled thread provides reduced operating torque.

Before their timely delivery to Tata Steel, the metal-seated gate valves were subject to rigorous in-house hydrostatic testing to ensure performance and compliance with EN 12266-1.

BESPOKE SOLUTIONS

For custom solutions, fast turnaround times or support from a proven valve supplier, call T-T Flow® on 01630 647200, or email ttflow@ttpumps.com

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