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.

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