Valve selection – Application/Risk/Business Case

The cost to industry of improper valve selection is immeasurable. The replacement cost of failed valves, where the failure is caused by their unsuitability
for a service, is only the beginning.  Small gas or fluid leaks can go undetected for many months; reducing efficiency, increasing costs, creating an unsafe
workplace and in the worst case – posing a threat to human life and the environment.

Correct valve choice requires careful evaluation of the application or service, risk assessment and the business case. i.e. Total Cost of Ownership.
The application evaluation involves three basic areas:
1. Industry specific requirements (e.g. Sanitary requirements for Food & Beverage & Pharmaceutical industries).
2. Type of flow (gas, thin fluid, viscous liquid. Suspended solids etc)
3. Operating conditions (temperature, pressure)     

A valve that simply meets the basic criteria of the application evaluation may not be appropriate when risk is taken into consideration, For example
some line media, such as hydrogen and methane gases, pose an enormous environmental risk. The smallest leak can end in catastrophic consequences.
Accordingly consideration must be given to specifying a higher quality valve that significantly exceeds the base requirements of the application.
The business case - total cost of ownership - is too often ignored at the specifying stage. An inexpensive ball valve may initially seem a very attractive option
compared to a diaphragm valve. However, the more robust diaphragm valve will last many years longer than the ball valve, reduces plant parts inventory
(no complete spare valves required) and is inline serviceable. Over a ten year period the cost savings (in terms of spare parts stock and reduced plant down-time)
can be very significant.

Before you specify a valve for any application, talk to a KDV technical sales representative about the available options. We offer a wide range of valves
for a variety of industrial applications. Our comprehensive knowledge base - developed over the course of 30 years servicing the flow control
industry – will help to ensure that you choose the best valve for every application.