Fluid System Evaluation Services
What causes fluid system inefficiencies?
Most fluid system problems are related to installation issues, not individual component failures. Fittings that are not properly tightened, ferrules that have been turned backwards, even valves that have been installed backwards can be spotted by the keen eye of a Swagelok field engineer. These conditions can invite leaks and unintended emissions. Even seasoned industry professionals can make these common errors if they were not properly instructed on optimized performance and fluid system leak detection.
Oftentimes, a leaky valve or noisy regulator is replaced with the same component, which may have been improperly selected during system design. This corrective measure may be a quick fix, but doesn't address the root cause or other potential issues which may come from it further on down the line... which could also lead to dangerous conditions for catastrophic failure for your team members.
How can Swagelok help?
It's no secret that better system designs can improve fluid system performance. Here are some ways that a fluid system evaluation before, during, and post-installation can ensure your plant is operating safely and profitably.
Pre-Installation
Pre-planning a project with a Swagelok fluid system expert, i.e., one of our field engineers, ensures that you are selecting the proper hose or tubing for your application with the correct end connection configuration. Media temperature and pressure are major conditions to consider, along with materials of construction, when dealing with highly corrosive environments. Incompatible choices can lead to leaks, vibrations, system failures, and more. When working in limited space, pre-planning will ensure proper allowance for installation and maintenance purposes. Nothing is worse, that having to replace a valve and not having enough room to turn a wrench.
- Review your P&ID for layout optimization
- Update CAD drawings to reroute tubing or hoses and simplify or improve component selection.
- Review material and component selection for compatibility.
- Review BOM’s to identify opportunities for improved lead times and availability.
You can never go wrong with a second set of Swagelok-certified eyes.
During and Post-Installation
Having a Swagelok field engineer onsite during your installation process can help guide your team or contractor through proper procedures and answer any questions that may arise. Even the best laid plans experience hiccups.
- Ensure best practices are used installing Swagelok products (i.e., fittings are not over or under tightened, potentially causing leaks).
- Ensure components are assembled in order specific to plan drawings.
- Ensure best practices are used during tube bending process. Angles in tight spaces can be very tricky.
- Make the most of your valuable time to help keep construction timeline on schedule.
Post-installation inspects can ensure that the assemblies were completed correctly according to plan. This may not be as beneficial as having a field engineer onsite during the installation process to answer any potential questions, but you will still have peace of mind by having a Swagelok expert's confirmation that the work was carried out exactly as intended.
- Answer questions about repair and maintenance, future system upgrades
- Ensure best practices were used when installing Swagelok products
- Ensure components were assembled according to plan drawings.
- Ensure best practices were used during tube bending process.
You’d be surprised how often valves end up installed the wrong way — sometimes even upside-down. Start and finish your system with Swagelok on your team.