Butterfly valve installed, problem solved - Reducing Dow’s operational costs under extreme process conditions
In this weeks post, I’d like to give you the highlights of how Neles developed a reliable, solid proof valve solution for Dow Stade DME reactor.
The Dow Chemical Company has been operating in Stade, Germany for more than 40 years. Nearly three million tons of basic and specialty chemicals are manufactured per year in this ultramodern integrated plant complex, placing high availability and safety demands on all components. That’s why Dow has installed a custom-designed butterfly valve, developed by Neles, to reliably shut off the DME reactor in Stade.
Around 4 billion euros have been invested over the years to optimize existing plants and to build new ones. Experience has shown that every single component matters. The search for the ideal valve solution turned out to be a long and costly task. Gate valves, ball valves and plug valves were installed, tested and rejected over the years.
As SPP coordinator Ludger Michalczak is responsible for making changes to instrumentation and pipework at three of the 16 plants. One of these plants is the chloromethane plant for processing dimethyl ether (DME). The fixed bed reactor must be separated from the nearby process and sealed with a valve when maintenance personnel enter it. The reactor must also be isolated in case of an emergency to prevent emissions.
Challenges: Coke fines and heat
“This valve must close on demand with 100% safety and reliability. The problem is that we have an exothermic catalyst, which is a chemical reaction with heat, which produces coke. Both the coke fines and the heat kept damaging the first valves and causing them to fail.” Ludger Michalczak sums up the problem, “We have extreme processes here, so we need extreme solutions.”
Ludger Michalczak is SPP coordinator at Dow in Stade and is responsible for adjusting instrumentation and pipework at three plants: “Neles has identified our problem and has delivered a functioning solution.” Photo: Neles
A butterfly valve hadn’t been considered because its sealing surface is small compared to ball valves or plug valves, but Michalczak decided to try one anyway. The principle of the butterfly valve proved successful, but still needed improvement to fulfill the “bidirectional tightness” function specified by Dow. “It was essential for us that we finally put a stop to our longstanding problem with the valve in the DME reactor. We wanted to have a valve that was durable, reliable and safe.”
This blog post has been up-dated in July 2020, due to company name change to Neles.
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Butterfly valves
Neles™ butterfly valves are designed to truly optimize the efficiency of process operations by offering best-in-class valve capacity. They provide long-lasting tightness and industry-leading valve reliability, certified to SIL 3. Our product range includes both metal and soft-seated and rubber-lined butterfly valves.
40 years of butterfly valve performance
The evolution from an idea to a successful product family that can stand the test of time requires both dedication and persistence. It all starts with a challenge and innovative thinking. The most important ingredient, however, is determined people who are willing to invest time and systematic hard work into overcoming all obstacles along the long road to sustainable success. There are no shortcuts. Just hard work. The evolution of the Neles butterfly valve Neldisc™ product family is no different