Proper maintenance effectively extends the service life of electric ball valves, improves operational efficiency, reduces downtime, and saves on replacement costs.
Electric ball valves should be stored indoors in a dry, well-ventilated area, with both ends of the flow passage sealed. Valves in long-term storage require periodic inspection to remove dirt and debris, and machined surfaces should be coated with anti-rust oil.
Regular inspections should be conducted after installation. During operation, all valve components must be intact and in good condition. Bolts on flanges and brackets must be fully present and undamaged, with no signs of looseness. Loose handwheel retaining nuts must be tightened promptly to prevent wear at the connection point or the loss of the handwheel and nameplate. If a handwheel is lost, it must be replaced immediately; using an adjustable wrench as a substitute is prohibited. Packing glands must not be tilted or lack the necessary pre-tightening clearance. For electric valves located in environments exposed to rain, snow, dust, or sand, the valve stem should be fitted with a protective cover. Scale indicators on the valve must remain intact, accurate, and legible. Seals, caps, and pneumatic accessories must be complete and undamaged, and insulation jackets should be free of dents or cracks.
Actuators have specific requirements regarding the limitation of torque (axial force) and rotation angle. Once the specifications of the electric unit are determined, the control torque is also fixed. Under normal operation within the preset timeframe, the motor does not become overloaded. However, overload may occur in the following situations: first, low supply voltage prevents the generation of required torque, causing the motor to stall; second, incorrect adjustment of the torque limiting mechanism (setting it higher than the stall torque) results in continuous excessive torque, causing the motor to stall; third, intermittent operation leads to heat accumulation exceeding the motor's permissible temperature rise; fourth, a malfunction in the torque limiting mechanism circuit causes excessive torque; and fifth, excessively high ambient temperatures reduce the motor's thermal capacity. The ambient temperature should be maintained within the range of -25°C to 70°C. Explosion-proof electric ball valves should be selected for applications involving unstable current, corrosive environments, flammable or explosive atmospheres, special media, or situations requiring long periods without maintenance.
