As technology marches on, standards for efficiency and reliability march on with it. To keep up with the competition—let alone to get ahead of them—you need to keep up the pace with the latest trends and innovations in valve technology. From smart valves that control flow by themselves to real-time and remote valve monitoring to other valve automation solutions, let’s explore what’s shaking up the world of valve innovation and how you can take the reins to improve the efficiency and safety of your pipelines.
How Valve Innovations Improve Efficiency, Reliability, and Safety
Valve automation and other smart valve technologies have enabled industrial pipelines to make great leaps in productivity as well as cutting down on the risks of workplace hazards.
High-tech valves with automated control and remote monitoring features provide precise flow control and swift, easy operation—meaning they can respond quicker to changing conditions, with much easier and quicker human intervention—or none at all. This means smoother operations and optimal performance across the board. Some valve automation solutions even provide automatic self-diagnostics and predictive maintenance to identify potential issues before they graduate into full-blown problems that can shut down your operations.
New valve technology also often incorporates data tracking systems that can help you measure the performance of your pipelines with accuracy and depth the likes of which you’ve never experienced before—giving you insights into performance trends that help you make confident, informed decisions about your maintenance schedules or repairs.
Today’s valve innovations also include powerful safety features, including automatic emergency shutoff systems and fail-safes that don’t require human intervention, which can prevent overpressure scenarios or other dangerous situations from damaging expensive downstream equipment and creating an unsafe working environment for your personnel.
New Valve Automation Solutions
Now that we’ve taken a brief look at what makes keeping up with valve innovations so important, let’s take a look at some of the innovative new technologies and materials we think you’ll want to keep your eyes on in these coming years:
Smart Sensors
Innovative new valve technology gets real-time data on pressure, temperature, flow rate, and more thanks to powerful and precise sensors integrated into the valves. Smart sensors mean smart valves—valves that can tell you everything about their operation at a glance for improved monitoring and management. These sensors make it easy to maintain precise fluid flow, ensure consistent flow rates, and avoid blockages or overflows.
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Predictive Maintenance with AI and ML
AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) algorithms are going to work well with these sensors in control valves and automated flow control systems. The data from the sensors pour into the algorithms, which the AI/ML systems use to spot trends a human operator might miss. These technologies will make predictive maintenance for valves much easier in industrial environments where failure can come quickly and suddenly—and result in expensive downtime.
Wireless Valve Actuation
Over the past decade, wireless consumer products have caught on like wildfire, so it’s no surprise that wireless technology is catching on in rigorous industrial environments as well. Valves in hazardous industrial environments such as in mining or petrochemical facilities or tucked away in hard-to-reach locations are difficult to manually operate. But remote valve monitoring and operation systems allow operators to observe, adjust, and shut down valve functions even at a distance.
PLC and SCADA Systems
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are valve automation systems designed specifically for large-scale, real-time valve monitoring and control. For complex valve networks in manufacturing lines, refineries, and other large-scale industrial facilities, these systems allow you to remotely keep dozens of valves running smoothly and in-sync.
New Valve Fabrication Solutions
In addition to valve automation and control solutions, we’re also seeing innovation in how valves are being built:
Innovative Valve Materials
Plastics need to meet high standards of durability, strength, and chemical inertness to function in industrial environments. New polymers are constantly being synthesized to improve durability, chemical resistance, flexibility, and other attributes to offer lightweight, cost-effective, energy-efficient alternatives for stainless steel or other metals.
Industrial 3D Printing
Typically, valves and other PVF products are created through a process called subtractive manufacturing. Traditional techniques such as CNC milling or turning shave away bits from a block of material until the desired shape of a pipe, valve body, or fitting comes out. 3D printing, also called additive manufacturing, does the opposite.
3D printing technology can be adapted to use industrial plastics, making it easier to quickly build new custom valve designs and fabricate parts with complex geometries and tight tolerances for bespoke industrial use cases, such as building specialized equipment and systems for automotive or aerospace fuel systems.
American Stainless: Your Trusted Source for Cutting-Edge Valve Technology
When you’re looking for the latest in control valves and automation technology, look no further than American Stainless’ vast inventory. Whatever valve innovations you need to take your pipelines further, we help you get it on your timetable to keep your schedules and budgets intact.
Get in touch with us today to get a quote on smart control valves and other valve automation solutions.