A major utility on the U.S. West Coast resorted to a veteran valve manufacturer to design, fabricate, and replace four custom 36-inch ball valves within a 28-week delivery requirement.
By Bob Donnelly, Vice President of Business Development, Flo-Tite Valves & Controls and KCI Editorial
Project Forecast
In early 2024, a historical structure at a major utility on the U.S. West Coast faced a challenge within its infrastructure. Four 36-inch ball valves needed replacing and required adaptation to fit an old 34-inch line.
Also mandated was the development of the foundation to support the valves at a horizontal incline. Additionally, the requirements needed to be completed within a nine-month time frame, as an outage at the utility was scheduled for October 2024.
“To successfully meet the proposed end date, productive team meetings were essential over the
course of the project.”
The Project Design and Requirements
With the assistance of an engineering firm, the end user selected valve manufacturer Flo-Tite. Based on its capabilities of meeting the 28-week delivery requirement, Flo-Tite was tasked with designing, manufacturing, delivering, and installing four custom, engineered 36-inch ball valves.
Specific Application Components
Specific application components were integral to the successful completion of the project and included the following:
- Engineering support to design 34 x 36-inch customized welded fabricated flange adapters to fit the valves to the existing 34-inch line.
- Engineering support to fabricate custom standing legs to mount the new support structure below the valves.
Design Drawings and Illustrations
The project required design drawings and illustrations to shape the project’s outcome and consisted of the following:
- The support of 2D and 3D drawings of the valve assemblies, including the gears, motors, and fabricated components.
- Relocation of grease ports on the valves for varying orientations of the valves after installation.
Strategizing and Project Coordination Team Members
The project’s team comprised Flo-Tite’s Sales Support Manager, its in-house engineer, and the end user engineering firm’s team consultants.
To meet the requirements of the design specifications, manufacturing and installation by the proposed end date, team meetings were scheduled weekly over the course of 28 weeks – from the end of January 2024 through August 2024.
Project Conclusion
Flo-Tite delivered the valve assemblies in October 2024. The company adhered to all specifications and requirements for successful installation and met the end user’s deadline for the planned outage.