Abstract
Centrifugal pumps are widely used in industrial processes for transferring fluids under varying operating conditions. These pumps require a minimum flow rate to maintain internal cooling and prevent damage caused by overheating, cavitation, and excessive vibration during startup, shutdown, or process upsets. Failure to maintain this minimum flow can lead to premature wear of pump components, seal failures, and reduced operational reliability.
Valves designed for minimum flow applications play a critical role in protecting centrifugal pumps. Such valves automatically recirculate a predetermined minimum flow back to the source or a storage tank during low-load conditions, including startup, shutdown, and process disturbances. By ensuring continuous flow through the pump, these valves prevent thermal damage and maintain stable operation.
In demanding applications, such as those requiring Class V shutoff, valves must withstand severe pressure drops while maintaining tight shutoff to ensure plant efficiency. Conventional designs often address high-pressure drops through multi-stage pressure reduction, but they still face challenges such as cavitation, seat leakage, noise, and vibration. These issues compromise reliability and increase maintenance costs
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Recommended Citation
Telungupalayam Ramakrishnan, Iniyankarthik; Ramasamy, Senthil; and Shahda, Joseph G., "Triple-Seal Split Plug Valve with tight shutoff for High-Pressure Minimum Flow Applications", Technical Disclosure Commons, (March 19, 2026)
https://www.tdcommons.org/dpubs_series/9561