Understanding the Cost-Effectiveness of PFA Lined Valves

 

Understanding the Cost-Effectiveness of PFA Lined Valves

Valves are used in various industries and have several applications. However, in industries such as chemical processing, metal, pharmaceuticals, and food production, valves need to be extra strong and protected as they have to come in contact with corrosive and abrasive fluids on a daily basis. Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) lined valves are perfect for handling highly corrosive fluids. PFA is a thermoplastic polymer that offers excellent chemical resistance, ensuring the valve doesn't give up when repeatedly coming in contact with corrosive liquids.

To explain to a layman, a PFA lining provides a smooth, non-stick coating, which minimizes the risk of fluid buildup and clogging, ensuring consistent flow and operational efficiency. Think of it as the layer on top of your non-stick cookware, except that the PFA lining on industrial valves is several times tougher and won't come off easily.

Are PFA-lined valves different from regular valves? No, and yes. The working mechanisms of PFA-lined valves remain the same as those of standard valves. However, a PFA-lined valve is a valve with added protection. The lining acts as a shield to the valve's internal components, ensuring they never come in contact with aggressive fluids, offering a longer lifespan to the valve.

When it comes to the different kinds of PFA-lined valves available in the market, buyers are spoilt for choice. Everything from ball valves (the ones used for regulating flow in pipelines) to plug valves (the ones that offer a quick and tight shutoff to avoid leaks), butterfly valves (the ones that are compatible with large-diameter pipelines), diaphragm valves (the ones that are most suited for applications that call for high purity and contamination-free processes) and check valves (the ones that are known to prevent backflow in pipelines can be PFA-lined.

Where are PFA-lined valves used?

Chemical Industries: Since PFA-lined valves can handle harsh chemicals, they are ideal for chemical industries where all kinds of fluids, including corrosive ones, are handled.

Pharmaceutical Industry - PFA-lined valves offer a contamination-free environment, making them perfect for pharma, where drugs must be processed under the most hygienic conditions.

Food & Beverages - Since PFA-lined valves come with very little risk of contamination, they are preferred by the food industry for processing sauces, pastes, and dressings in the most hygienic conditions.

Are PFA-lined valves cost-effective?

Now, let's move on to the main topic of this article - the cost-effectiveness of PFA-lined valves. It is important to understand that the acquisition cost of these valves is not low by any standards. Since there is an extra layer of protection added to standard valves, there is also an added cost. However, when you look at the total lifecycle cost, PFA-lined valves do offer savings. Here is how.

PFA-lined valves are durable - The PFA lining minimizes the risk of corrosion, which means the valve continues to perform for a much longer duration. The result? Lesser replacements, more savings.

PFA-lined valves are low-maintenance - PFA lining is strong, pretty strong, which means the chances of wear and tear are fewer, reducing the frequency of repairs and associated downtime.

PFA-lined valves are more heat resistant – PFA lining adds to a valve's thermal resistance as it can withstand temperatures up to 260 degrees. This capability makes PFA-lined valves even more robust and cost-effective.

PFA-lined valves offer reduced friction – PFA lining's low surface energy allows it to reduce friction when the fluid moves, offering energy efficiency. And energy efficiency easily translates into cost efficiency.

In a nutshell, corrosion is the top cause of valve failure. This fact alone makes PFA-lined valves a superior option. These valves can handle anything from Sulfuric acid to hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and caustic solutions such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.

Where to buy PFA-lined valves from?

Richter, working under IDEX India, specializes in all kinds of valves, including PFA-lined valves, PTFE-lined valves, ball valves, butterfly valves, PFA-lined globe valves, PFA-lined control valves, and industrial plug valves. The brand has been trusted to offer cost-effective solutions that can handle highly corrosive fluids, high-purity and ultra-pure liquids, chlorinated water, chemicals, solvents and rinsing fluids. Richter's PFA-lined valves are a great, cost-effective alternative to valves made of special metals and alloys, which do offer corrosion resistance but at a premium price. Richter also offers valves for pure media and chlorinated water.

Richter's PFA-lined ball valves are a one-piece ball/stem unit that offers high performance and low maintenance. The adjustable sealing allows the operator to control the flow of the fluid as per their requirements. Richter's PFA-lined butterfly valves, on the other hand, can handle pressures up to 10 bar and temperatures between -40 °C and +200 °C. Featuring a PFA disc lining a PTFE body liner, the valve can be used with application in industries such as hydrogen gas, chlorine gas, lea brine, methyl chloride and Hypo.

These are just some of the many valves offered by Richter. To know more about Richter's PFA-lined valves and send a query, please visit their website today. https://www.idexindia.in/richter/