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An Inside-out Problem

A look at steel mills reveals these operations can have problems maintaining hydraulic system pressure on gauge lines if plant managers do not adhere to servo valve leakage specifications. One steel mill we learned about had a robust HPU system, with three, 33-percent-capacity pumps and a fourth pump in reserve. But as its pressure situation worsened, the mill began operating its reserve pump, consuming additional electricity and operating without a spare pump. At the same time, the pressures were declining and the fluid temperatures were increasing.

The cause: The servo valves had not received a factory repair in years. Instead, an unauthorized repair house (URH) had repaired the valves. The root cause of the steel mill’s problem was leakage through the servo valves caused by worn lands between the bushing and the spool. Typically, a URH cannot purchase replacement parts from an OEM and will reuse worn parts as long as the valve is deemed functional.

The severe leakage explained the higher flow needed to maintain system pressure and the increased temperature as the hot oil was prematurely returned to the sump. The internal leakage of the valve was eight times greater than recommended. After inspection, technicians learned that some of the spools were neither made by the OEM nor manufactured to the correct tolerances.

Running to Failure

Turbines at power plants are demanding applications for actuators and servo valves because motion control is the key to machine performance and safety. Gas and steam turbines use rugged inlet guide vane actuators and fuel gas control valves to regulate the correct ratio of air and fuel in varying loads and ambient environments for efficiency and minimal emissions. For the turbine system, the fuel gas control valve on an actuator is the primary interface between a complex control system and the mechanical part of the plant. Maintaining that link is a linchpin for producing power.

A site inspection of the turbines at one power plant showed varnishing of the hydraulic system. A simple cotton swab during the disassembly process revealed loose varnish within the manifold and actuator. Inspection of the process valve revealed internal leakage and carbon deposits on the plug and stem. An inspection of the actuators indicated the beginning of a hydraulic leak, which the site maintenance manager hadn’t predicted. Performing little to no scheduled maintenance will generate short-term savings. But the cost to restore failed components to “as new” condition can be far more expensive than the interim steps in a well-constructed, preventative maintenance program.

Five Thoughts on Preventing or Fixing Servo Valve Problems

Whether a valve (and the equipment it supports) fails due to insufficient repairs, leakage or carbon deposits, there are solutions. Here are five things to consider for your application:

Keep fluid clean. For companies that invest in servo control components, the servo valve is key to either the speed or position (or both) of the most critical axes on the machine; companies must keep servo valves running in severe environments including high temperatures and 24/7 operations. ISO standard 4406 measures cleanliness as the quantity of particles at different sizes in fluid. There are two ISO 4406 cleanliness standards for servo valves. The first, 14/11 (ISO 4406:1987) or 17/14/11 (ISO 4406:1999), allows the valve to function as designed with an “average” wear rate. The second standard—offering extended life and performance—is 13/10 (ISO 4406:1987) or 16/13/10 (ISO 4406:1999).

Monitor your system with predictive maintenance. Many companies monitor servo valve performance by recording the amount of current it takes to hold the actuator or system mid-stroke or at null. A 10-milliamp (mA) valve might operate at 5 mA to hold position at null in a closed-loop system. The limit could be +/- 1.5 mA. If the current passes over the established threshold, then check the valve or system for contamination in the servo valve or friction in the actuator and/or system.

Reduce servo valve sprawl; one model for all machines. Many companies reduce downtime and lower costs for their machines by reducing the number of servo valve models from different vendors. Some servo valve makers even offer a trade-in program. One benefit of this approach is that it eliminates obsolete valves, which makes repair programs easier.

Think twice when considering a URH. A URH might win your business by comparing the repair price per valve with that of an OEM, but the repeat maintenance cost added to a URH’s price makes it more economical to have the OEM service your valves. URH-repaired valves typically last between six and 12 months, until a plant manager sees an unstable production platform caused by early fatigue in the valve.

Some maintenance managers believe asking an OEM to repair equipment will break the budget. Instead, they turn to an unauthorized repair house, or even bypass an expensive repair altogether, to save money. But the facts show that OEM repairs save time and money in the end.

Christopher Valiquette is the North American sales manager for