Applications

These are just a few examples of the types of applications which are ideal for the Belfield Valve.

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The Belfield Valve has been acclaimed, the easiest, most efficient way to decant and recover a wide variety of liquids possessing different specific gravities.

It is automatic, extremely sensitive, versatile and provides users with a proven method for decanting or separating the heavier of two liquids. It also eliminates the many problems which occur during manual decanting of one phase in a wide range of multiphase systems.

No waste
Loss of product due to human error, especially where little or no colour variation exists between phases.
Detection
Detects and retains or rejects valuable interface materials containing recoverable products.
Safety
Serves as a safety device on effluent discharge systems reducing and/or eliminating pollution problems.
Automatic
Requires minimal attention, service and maintenance thereby reducing labour costs drastically.
Stainless Steel
Standard body materials of construction are either carbon steel or stainless steel, in both cases the internals are constructed from stainless steel.

Environmental Protection

The Belfield valve is increasingly in demand on Environmental Protection Grounds.

Throughout all industries where “Waste Water” is decanted from process or storage vessels to the Effluent Treatment Plant, the Belfield Valve is applied as an environmental protection device to minimise the possibility of accidental discharge of oil, solvents or chemicals into Final Effluent Treatment Plant.

Chemical Industry

Below are but a few examples showing the wide range of materials handled:
Frequently, varying two phase systems are placed through the same batch vessel or carry on a series of “washings” within the vessel. In this instance, multiple valves are not necessary, provided temperatures are relatively similar and both phases have similar specific gravity with temperature. It is then possible to find the closest approach of specific gravities that will arise and ballast the float accordingly, then the valve will work even more effectively in these circumstances where the specific gravities diverge. If in doubt, provide the maximum information possible on specific gravities for both phases and temperatures involved for each phase system, or after each “wash”, contact the factory for application assistance. In general, a mixture of gravity discharge and pumping systems will be found with pumping systems predominating.

Typical Two-Phase Systems

• Toluene/Water
• Benzene/Water
• Xylene/Water
• Nitrobenzene/Acid
• Nitrobenzene/70% Sulphuric Acid
• Toluene/Dichloraniline
• Ortho Dichlorobenzene at 80OC
• Organica/10% Sulphuric Acid @ 90OC
• Aniline/Water @ 60OC
• Sodium Sulphite/Organic Nitrile Oil
• Naphtha/Water
• Petroleum Spirit/Water
• Heavy Fuel Oil/Water
• Gas Oil/Water
• Light Distillate/Water
• Aviation Spirit/Water
• Aviation Spirit/Paraffin

Pharmaceutical Industry

This involves drainage of water from storage tanks, for recovering wash material, (Toluene, Xylene etc) and in the final stages of intermediate material or final liquid base products.

A brief list of some materials handled include:

• Epichlorydrdrin/Water
• M.E.K./Water
• MKB/Water
• Toluene/Water
• Benzene/Water
• Many unidentified trade name organic materials/Water

Petroleum Industry

Drainage of water from crude product tanks and reclaimed oil tanks.

Every refinery also has reclaimed oil tanks for storage of oil recovered from spillage which finds its way to the refinery API separators, where it is skimmed off and pumped to the reclaimed oil tank. Relatively larger proportions of water are also pumped into these tanks or settlers from the oil and the run-off rate is high. Numerous valves are used for this duty, with specially enlarged equilibrium valves and connections to avoid blockage. The resulting “water” is often very heavily laden with suspended solids which the valve handles without a problem.

Continuous drainage of rain water from floating roof tank roofs.

Every refinery utilises floating roof tanks for the storage of crude and where large-capacity storage is required. This design has two potential problems:

1. Sinking the roof if it fills with rainwater and is not drained

2. Discharging the contents of the tank to ground/drains if internal articulated drain joints/hose fail.

To address this problem a Belfield valve may be used on the drain connection at the tank side. The Belfield valve with the optional “swan neck” outlet is designed to allow the valve to stay open whilst water is present whether flow or not. This is affected by allowing the outlet from the valve to be full all the time whilst not being allowed to siphon. The float therefore floats all the time and if a rain event happens, the valve allows the rain to flow from the roof to via the internal drain mechanism and out through the Belfield valve. In the event of a leaking joint or drain hose the Belfield valve will sense the changing gravity and close. This avoids the potential of allowing product to go to drain or contaminate the ground and expensive recovery processes. It is possible to sense the Belfield float position i.e. is it up or closed via magnetic proximity devices, these can be designed for hazardous areas. This means it would be possible to have a remote alarm in the event the float closed avoiding a roof sinking. This option is only available on the MS/STD. For more information on the float sense system please call the factory.

Reclaimed Oil and Heavy Engineering Industries

These are based mainly on distillation and there is some water drainage from the recovered product and certainly from the feed material to the plant.

The heavy engineering industry uses large volumes of hydraulic and quench oils which are recovered for reprocessing. These oils all become contaminated with fairly large quantities of water, which is removed after separation in underground sumps or above ground tanks.

Examples of industries involved include:

• Aluminium Industry
• Plastic extrusion industry
• Drop forging industry
• Engine manufacturing

Belfield Valve is Fast Effecient Safe Automatic

The Belfield valve can be used for practically any decanting operations within the limits of its capacity, pressure and temperature parameters.