Bespoke Wedge Gate Valve for Port Talbot Steelworks

When there was an urgent requirement to replace an obsolete 30” isolating wedge gate valve at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot plant in South Wales, a bespoke solution in a very short time frame was required to ensure the plant could remain operational with no unscheduled outages. T-T’s ‘can do’ approach prevailed to deliver a custom valve in full compliance with currently accepted product standards.

The Problem

Tata Steel’s Plant in Port Talbot is one of the largest integrated steel production plants in Europe, producing nearly 5 million tonnes of steel slab each year and operating continuously 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Over time, a legacy valve on the facility’s hot strip mill became unreliable and unable to maintain a seal, being deemed beyond economic repair and no longer in compliance with current standards which specify that a 30” (DN750) nominal bore is unacceptable. 

To fit in with a period of planned maintenance, an urgent solution was required - but this wasn’t just as simple as supplying a replacement valve due to the non-standard face-to-face dimensions and flange drilling. A bespoke, custom designed and manufactured valve was needed - and in double quick time to ensure the plant remained operational with no unscheduled outages, which are extremely expensive and must be avoided at all costs. 

The Solution

T-T Flow, a division of T-T Pumps, are highly experienced in delivering custom valve solutions, often working to very short timescales to fit in with predetermined maintenance schedules, as was the case in this project.

Utilising our experienced design engineers using the latest advanced computer-aided design and finite element analysis software, we were able to quickly engineer a solution - a 750mm diameter bespoke wedge gate valve rated to 16 Bar. The valve underwent rigorous hydraulic simulations to ensure compliance to EN12266-1 ahead of a timely delivery to site.

Fabricated in WRAS listed epoxy coated mild steel to maintain specific face-to-face requirements, the valve has precision machined weld deposit overlay bronze seats for optimal sealing performance and a rising acid-resistant stainless steel stem with the easily maintainable gland-packed bonnet, imperially drilled to BS10-E to match existing pipework flanges. A directly mounted 4m extension with a handwheel actuated thrust-taking bevel gearbox ensures safe ergonomic operation.

T-T Flow are experts in designing, engineering and manufacturing valves and associated ancillary equipment - from stock valves to completely custom-engineered solutions to meet your individual specifications. For more information, please give us a call on +44 (0)1630 647200.