Knifegate Mounted in Horizontal Direction

[MFJewell]

My colleague is working on a valve installation on a chilled water supply to one of our customers. At the tail end of the project, the customer decided to add temporary chiller connections for emergency use. The supply to the connections in a 24" line off of our 60" main. The customer wants an isolation valve in the event that the temporary chiller connections develop a leak. Space is nearly non-existent to add a valve. Originally, my colleague looked at a butterfly valve, but it is so close to the wall, there is no clearance for the mounting hardware. My colleague is now considering a knifegate, however it would have to be mounted so the gate moves to the side rather than up due to height limitations. Does anyone have any successful experience with this type of configuration and if so, can you offer make/model of valve used.

 

[gerhardl]

This is not a commercial forum so I am afraid you have to do the commercial part elsewhere.

On the other hand I do have experience with larger horizontal mounted knifegate valves, both positive and negative.

Most (all) suppliers warn against this positioning, as this could fast lead into trouble if not following general 'best practice' for selection of product and mounting/operation:

a) Select a renowned brand, with longtime references you can inspect , not necessarily horizontal mounted, but difficult cases.
b) Select a valve that keeps tight in both directions also at zero pressure, and without pockets where residue can gather.
c) Check how simple it is to adjust and change top seal for knife, and general maintenannce.
d) Separate supports for pipeline, no weight transferred to valve.
e) Separate support for valve, extra separate support for actuator.
f) Fork with room for movements as connection between valve-spindle and actuator not to give skew weight trasfer.
c) Use actuator with gear
d) Electric actuator with large gear excange for high start torque and easy operation absolutely recommended.
e) Proper and exact adjusting of torqe and limit switces.
f) Regular testing to full open and closed position (each third month??), greasing if necessary.

By following theese rueles yuo should avoid the most common traps.

Best Luck!