Managing blowdown
September 1st 2007 A critical part of maintaining
optimum steam boiler performance
is blowdown but, unless it is
managed efficiently, blowdown can
also be a major contributor to loss
of valuable heat energy and
chemically treated boilerwater.
The new MPA 46 from
Flowserve Gestra is a straightthrough
rapid action intermittent
blowdown valve that incorporates a
number of design features to help
reduce energy loss as well as
offering improved reliability and
ease of maintenance. To minimise
internal wear the valve is fitted with
a radial stage nozzle downstream
of the valve seat together with an
improved arrangement of valve
seals on the low pressure side. Its
design also ensures that it remains
insensitive to pressure impacts and
waterhammer, helping to prolong
service life.
The MPA 46 is operated by
means of a direct acting integral
diaphragm compressed air or
pressurised water actuator. The
valve features a large crosssectional
area of the orifice that
creates a suction effect when the
valve is opened, providing a shortterm
high water flow that aids the
rapid and effective discharge of
harmful sludge and sediment, but
with a minimal loss of heat energy.
This enables automatic or preprogrammed
blowdown
sequences to be optimised for
installations that are required to
operate without constant
supervision in accordance with
TRD 604. The valve is also fully
ASME compliant. More articles from Flowserve Flow Control UK Ltd: | 
