Archive: Jul 2014

The One-of-a-Kind HI-100™ Severe Service Control Valve

DFT has been producing high quality check valves and control valves for a range of applications for decades. In that time, we’ve become known for quality and that is most apparent in our HI-100™ Control Valve.

In-Line Straight Thru Design

The HI-100™ severe service control valve features an in-line straight-thru venturi flow design, as opposed to the “tortuous path” design of many other severe service control valves. The “tortuous path” design controls the velocity of the fluid by using a series of small flow passages which make 90° turns.

There are disadvantages to this technique, however, one of which is that it requires a significantly larger cage wall diameter to house the flow passages. This can make these valves more costly to install and maintain. Straight thru venturi flow design means a more efficient valve that requires less frequent and lower cost maintenance.

Flexible Design for All Applications

What else makes the HI-100™ unique? The seating element within the valve, a spherical ball, is contained by a cage which positions it relative to the downstream seat by means of linear travel, so there are no close clearances between the cage, ball, and seat. This allows the valve to operate both smoothly and efficiently regardless of temperature, and/or in fluids that carry suspended particles, such as light slurries.

The valve’s Quick Change Trim feature offers further benefits, trim is replaced in-line without use of special items. Furthermore, the interchangeability of the upstream and downstream seats and wear bushings mean an extended valve life, and therefore lower costs and less downtime.

Other features and benefits include: low operating thrust; manual, pneumatic, electric, and hydraulic actuation; weld end, flanged or custom end prep; temperatures from -425°F to 1900°F, and more.

Have questions or want more information on the HI-100™ severe service control valve? Contact DFT today or download our full Control Valve catalog to see what options we offer.

Design Elements to Consider when Selecting a Check Valve

Check valves perform a crucial function in pumping systems by permitting the forward flow of water when open, and preventing reverse flow when shut. When selecting a valve for your water and wastewater pumping system, you will likely want one that not only executes this task, but also does so efficiently.

Check valves should minimize energy consumption and also protect the system from pressure surges caused by water hammer. They should also suit your particular application. The two common types of check valves to examine are silent or in line check valves and swing check valves.

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3 Common Problems in Check Valve Selection

Did you know that, unlike other types of valves, check valves continue to work if a plant loses electricity, air, manpower, or all of the above?  They come in a wide variety of sizes, materials, and end connections, and can be used in countless applications.

So why is it that they’re often improperly sized or selected? It’s because check valves are only as good as their application. Oftentimes the problems with a check valve are not related to the valve itself, but application and other factors. So when you’re problem solving or replacing a check valve, keep these three common problems in mind:

Water Hammer

Water hammer is one of the most common check valve problems. Water hammer is a pressure surge that’s caused when a liquid or gas is forced to stop or change direction suddenly, and often occurs when a valve is suddenly closed at the end of a pipeline system. This can result in both noise and vibration, which can in turn lead to damage and additional maintenance or repair costs.

Water hammer can be prevented, however, by using a faster-closing check valve that stops the pressure surges and shock waves that can damage and rupture equipment. Our silent check valves in particular are known for their effectiveness in preventing and in many cases eliminating water hammer.

Reverse Flow

Reverse flow is another common check valve problem and can be extremely costly, especially when it occurs at the discharge of a pump, causing the pump to spin backwards.

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The Growing Success—and Increasing Needs—of American Oil and Gas

By now it should come as no surprise that American manufacturing is back, and all signs point to full speed ahead. There are many reasons for this, and one of them is our country’s natural gas boom—an abundance of production and supply that’s helping to make manufacturing here more cost effective and competitive.

In fact, the Energy Information Administration recently reported that “soaring shale production” resulted in 2013 seeing the fastest growth rate ever for oil production.* Articles such as this one confirm this, pointing out that America should be completely self sufficient in oil production by 2037—meaning zero imports  and enough domestic production to support the entire country’s energy needs.

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DFT Inc. Hits the Airwaves with Net Worth and Terry Bradshaw

Many people know Terry Bradshaw as a football player, and from his antics as part of Fox’s Sunday broadcast team. A growing number are learning about, if not his serious side, at least a side of him that isn’t all fun and games.

As host of the television program Net Worth, Bradshaw has been letting America in on a not-so-well-kept secret: that aside from his on-the-field and in-the-studio accomplishments, he is also a savvy, sharp businessman. Fun fact: he may have planted that seed as a used-car salesman – while he was still playing football. Imagine if that were LeSean McCoy’s offseason job!

Net Worth showcases the most creative, the most successful, and just the best in business across a wide range of industries. For these reasons, we were incredibly proud when DFT Inc. was asked to be featured in a segment in 2013.   The Net Worth show featured DFT’s exclusive Canadian distributor Triangle Fluid Controls , or TFC.  We view this segment and DFT’s inclusion on Net Worth as both humbling as well as a signal that we’re doing something right in our quest to provide the best products and service in check valves.

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