improve the cleaning and maintenance efforts in industrial business

Posted on: 14 May 2019

Seawater usage is common in industrial applications. For example, you may utilize natural seawater to feed your boiler system to keep costs low and public water supply consumption at a minimum. In situations where you are using seawater pumped directly from the source, the lines that you have connected will likely have to be outfitted with valves to turn the flow of water off and on.

You will have a lot of different options to turn to where valves are concerned, both in material and style. However, stainless steel ball valves tend to be the better solution. Take a look at why that is the case so that you can rest assured your seawater-supplied lines are fitted with valves worthy of the application. 

1.  Stainless steel is capable of standing up against high salt content. 

Seawater naturally has high concentrations of salt, and it is common knowledge that salt is a corrosive material. Many metals cannot stand up against the corrosive properties of salt-infused water, but stainless steel can do a really good job. Many people mistakenly use plastic valves with seawater because plastic does not break down like metal, but stainless steel is just as capable of thwarting issues over the long term. 

2.  Stainless steel valves are designed for high-pressure applications. 

Seawater feeder lines can be volatile where internal pressure is concerned, even if you just have a gravity-fed system. Because of that fact, it is important that any valves you install on feeder lines are designed to withstand direct pressure during use.

Stainless steel valves are well known to stand up in pressurized situations. It is for this very reason that oil refineries rely on valves made of stainless steel to disrupt pressurized gas flow through lines. Therefore, these valves made from this durable material are likely going to do just fine in spite of fluctuations in water pressure that can be naturally present. 

3.  Stainless steel valves are not going to lock up because of mineral deposits. 

Mineral deposits are a common problem with seawater supply lines, and the valves are perhaps most prone to capturing tiny particles that can cause problems over time. One of the greatest things about stainless steel valves is that they don't tend to hold on to mineral deposits like some other materials. The valves are easy to disassemble and clean regularly, which also means mineral deposits are less likely to be an issue with proper maintenance. 

For more information, contact a supply company that offers stainless steel valves for sale.