Arcraft Plasma Equipments’ CNC welding system for automatic hardfacing of valves offers numerous advantages over conventional methods.

In a competitive world, customers expect a high level of service with prompt and in time delivery of material. It is the need of the hour now for manufacturing companies to go in for a high level of automation in their manufacturing process to ensure they fulfill the expectations of their customers.

Arcraft has designed and manufactured a CNC controlled welding system for the hardfacing of high value valves. One such system has been supplied for the automated hardfacing of high tech Multiport Selector Valves (MSV) and ball valves.

The advantages of an automated system over a manual or semi-automated system are:

Speed: A fully automated system can process information much faster than a welding operator. The automated system’s response is faster than manual or semi-automatic systems operated by the welding operator and hence productivity is very high.

Repetition: Automated systems can do the same job repetitively without stopping, getting tired or bored unlike human beings who may fail to accomplish their duties properly over an extended period of time.

Accuracy: A programmed automated system is very accurate and follows precise instructions without error. Hence quality and productivity in automated systems is very high.

Safety: Automated systems for its functioning require minimum action on the part of the operator and can be used in places where it is hazardous for a human being to work. Welding does involve release of gases, heat and a very bright arc. The operator of our new CNC system is not exposed to these hazards to the extent a manual welder would incur for the same kind of jobs undertaken. Hence safety and a better working environment to human life are ensured.

Adaptability: Automated systems can be programmed to carry out different tasks. In this case both MSV valves and Ball valves are being hardfaced by the same machine in the fully automatic mode using separate programmes.

What is a MSV valve?

The Multiport Selector Valve (MSV) is a highly efficient engineering device used for fluid control that provides a cost effective and compact means to improve production management and well optimization. The MSV allows the diversion of fluids from a single flow line to a test outlet or a sampling device. A single MSV can allow as many as seven working flow lines through it all operating at the same time. While one inlet is isolated and can send the product to another location like a testing lab, the flow from the other six is combined into a separate group outlet, such as a holding tank battery. This permits in-line testing without taking the remaining wells off line.

The MSV is superior with respect to conventional manifold because it has only one user-friendly point for the control of maximum seven wells versus fourteen or seven operation points for conventional two-way or three-way valve production manifolds. It goes without saying that the complex MSV valve is very difficult to be hardfaced by manual or semi-automatic mode. Ball valves up to 1000 kg (1 tonne) have been successfully clad with Inconel 625 using the same system.

A ball valve is a form of quarter-turn valve, which uses a pivoting ball with a through hole to control flow through it. Ball valves are used in situations where tight shut-off is required. It is open when the ball’s through hole is in line with the fluid flow and closed when it is pivoted 90° by the valve handle in which case the ball solid side shuts off the flow.

Ball valves are durable, performing reliably even after many cycles and shutting fluid flow securely even after long periods of disuse. These qualities make them an excellent choice for shut-off and control applications, where they are often preferred to gate and globe valves. They are widely used valves, able to transfer gases, liquids and liquids with suspended solids (slurries).

Arcraft Plasma Equipment’s (I) Pvt Ltd, Mumbai. Tel: 022-28965890, 28965745, 28963247. Fax: 91-22-28966418. Email: arcraftplasma@gmail.com