In an APAC first, 11 3D printed valve trims engineered by IMI have boosted uptime and efficiency in a Chinese power plant project at a substantially lower cost than a full valve replacement.
According to the company, the 3D printed valve trims, which incorporate ABJ soft seats, are designed to maintain performance, manage costs, control emissions, and provide a sustainable process when upgrading valves.
Additionally, a 2023 life cycle assessment of Retrofit3D undertaken by Ricardo, the environmental and engineering consultancy, reported that depending on valve size, the use of this additive manufacturing technique offers a reduction in environmental impact between 85% and 96% versus traditional valve replacement.
Prior to the project, the existing valves had become inefficient due to severe erosion and leakage caused by insufficient pressure reduction. This would typically require considerable opex and capex investments given the cost of a replacement valve and the extensive engineering for the installation.
IMI’s Retrofit3D solution involves the engineering of bespoke drop-in replacement internal components with upgraded performance. This includes both the valve trim and seat, meaning the valve casing can remain in place. The replacement parts are also custom-made to the specific process conditions of the valve.
Courtesy of IMI.