Valve sealing solutions, particularly in high temperature or corrosive applications, for increased efficiency and environmental security.
The world relies on valves. Without valves we wouldn’t have clean water, electricity, fossil fuels, green energy and most of the things we take for granted. Valves rely on seals. Without seals they wouldn’t work. And for applications involving extreme temperatures, very high pressures, harsh environments and environmental security, these seals need to be metal. That’s where Cross can help.
Our products are attractive for valve applications where effective sealing is essential for reasons of safety, the environment and efficiency. Rugged designs optimise performance, reduce maintenance and contribute to improved asset management.
Valve stem seals, including the prevention of fugitive emissions. Metallic solutions manufactured by Cross can deliver positive sealing with strength and flexibility. Metal seals do not shrink and do not absorb water.
Metal valve seats for ball valves, butterfly valves and control valves. Our ability to manufacture a huge range of diameters suits valves in virtually all size and pressure rating environments, from miniature instrumentation to large pipeline valves.
Other applications:
Manufacture from wire or rod, using our environmentally efficient forging process, produces tough, high integrity products. Our proprietary technology delivers accurate dimensions and increased strength, particularly in the circumferential direction. Regular production encompasses diameters from 12mm up to 2,000mm for applications in temperatures up to 1,000°C.
Our expertise with stainless steels and alloys including Nimonics®, Inconels®, Haynes® and Waspaloy® is especially relevant for safety critical applications, high temperatures, corrosive media and cryogenics.
If you would like a quote for any custom rings or wish to discuss your requirements please contact us.
The climate crisis is a critical area of concern for governments, businesses and individuals worldwide. The urgent need for action is made clear when considering rising temperatures, extreme weather events and food and water insecurity. The Paris Agreement of 2015 set warming limits to below 2°C, and ideally 1.5°C, to avoid catastrophic impacts of climate change. Since that agreement, governments have reconfirmed the importance of this, such as at the
A control valve is typically a multi-turn valve such as a globe valve, used to regulate the flow of fluids such as gas, oil, water, and steam rather than purely an on/off function (isolation).
“There are many different types of valves, but they can generally be categorised as multi-turn, quarter-turn, and self-actuated valves. Multi-turn valves include gate, globe and pinch valves, and quarter-turn valves includes ball, butterfly, and plug valves which are all commonly used to isolate and/or throttling the flow of fluids.
Pressure relief valves are a type of self-actuated valve used for safety by limiting or controlling pressure. Another type of self-actuated valve is a check valve (a non-return valve) which prevent backflow of fluid in pipes.”
In the USA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted strict rules designed to curb emissions of methane. These rules require owners and operators to find and repair leaks, mandate fixed inspection schedules and urge the use of special equipment such as cameras and analysers to find leaks. Other agencies around the world have introduced similar and increasingly stringent preventative legislation.
Estimates of how much valves are to blame for fugitive emissions varies. But everyone agrees that it’s at least half! Studies have proven that the most problematic valves are old valves that were manufactured years before the advent of modern knowledge about valve fugitive emission tests. Thus, fugitive emissions from valves are a key topic taken very seriously by valve suppliers, contractors, and end users in the industry.
“Traditionally, valve seals have been made from non-metallic materials such as PTFE, Viton, nitrile as well as metallic materials such as cast iron. However, non-metallic materials have limited operating temperature ranges, both low and high. Cast iron could be considered old technology, brittle and limited in terms of flow media.
Cross metal seals can be made from various materials, from cobalt and nickel-based alloys, stainless steels and titanium. We can tailor designs, matching materials to the operating environment to give the best possible solution.”
“Valve stems, which as noted are the single largest source of fugitive emissions, continue to be sealed with graphite or PTFE compression packing. However, neither of these materials is suitable for cryogenic or high-temperature service in the presence of oxygen. Spring-energised metal seals for rotary, rising stem and linear valves can provide full metal-to-metal contact, leak tightness and accommodation of axial stem movement. Also available for sealing valve stems are special ring sets that control fugitive emissions and withstand the severe conditions of service in chemical, petrochemical and nuclear facilities.
Today these more resilient, metal-to-metal seals are available and being used in valves operating under extreme conditions. Metal seals are used where other materials are unacceptable. Manufactured in a wide range of sizes, they provide infinite storage life and long-term sealing with no porosity. These properties make them the sealing solution of choice for valves operating in today’s increasingly extreme environments.”
“Cast iron could be considered old technology, brittle and limited in terms of flow media.
Cross metal seals can be made from various materials, from cobalt and nickel-based alloys, stainless steels and titanium. We can tailor designs, matching materials to the operating environment to give the best possible solution.”
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Cross Manufacturing Company (1938) Limited
Registered Office: Midford Road, Bath, BA2 5RR
Registered in England No.342798
