The StraightFlo™ Solution
StraightFlo™ valves are an entirely different design concept for reciprocating compressor valves. Utilizing patented Modular Reed Valve Technology, they offer unique advantages in reliability, efficiency, maintenance, safety, and emission reduction.
For details on advantages and savings, see Lowest Life Cycle Costs.
StraightFlo™ valves drop-in replacements for conventional valves in all industrial reciprocating compressor applications:
- Any compressor make and model
- Speeds from 200 to 3600+ rpm
- Temperatures from -40° to 500°F (-40° to 260° C)
They are proven in a wide range of upstream, midstream and downstream applications, as well as non- oil and gas services.
How valves affect performance
Reciprocating compressor valves are high-maintenance consumables that impact:
- Machine reliability (uptime)
- Efficiency (power)
- Fugitive emissions
- Cost of operation (maintenance, repair, and inventory costs)
Valves are the leading cause of unscheduled compressor downtime, with failures most often triggered by mechanical fatigue, liquid slugging, or debris in the gas stream.
Why conventional valves often fall short
Conventional valve designs using plates, rings, and poppets offer varying degrees of reliability and efficiency.
These designs operate on the same basic principle: sealing elements that open when differential pressure increases sufficiently to overcome the closing force of helical coil springs.
Limiting factors of conventional designs include:
Reliability. Helical coil springs are prone to fatigue failures caused by cyclic stress, corrosion, and build-up of debris from the process gas.
Efficiency. Conventional designs have a tortuous flow path through the valve, which increases pressure losses and decreases efficiency—reducing throughput and increasing power consumption.
Serviceabiity. Repeated, high impacts on seats and guards cause wear-and-tear, requiring offsite machining and eventual replacement.
Inventory. Conventional designs require large inventories of unique spare parts for different compressor makes and models, as well as spare valve assemblies to keep the compressor running while others are out for repair.
StraightFlo™ — a genuinely different compressor valve
StraightFlo™ valves operate on an entirely different principle.
Each StraightFlo™ valve is an assembly of multiple interchangeable reed valve modules held stationary in a valve housing.
Regardless of the valve’s diameter, StraightFlo™ modules all have the same external dimensions.
The larger the valve, the more modules.
Patented Modular Reed Valve technology
Unlike conventional sealing elements, reed valves have no helical coil springs which cause premature failures.
Instead, robust and resilient steel reeds, designed for infinite fatigue life, provide reliable and efficient valve operation.
This patented design makes StraightFlo™ valves a drop-in replacement for conventional valves, with proven performance in upstream, midstream and downstream applications, as well as non-oil-and-gas services.
Straight flow path means higher efficiency
Traditionally, a significant percentage of a compressor’s power is consumed by pressure losses through the valves.
The flow path of a conventional valve design creates turbulence and flow eddies as gas winds its way through tight spaces, resulting in higher pressure losses and increased power consumption.
However, the straight-through flow of a StraightFlo™ valve, combined with a large effective flow area, decreases pressure losses, resulting in lower power consumption.
This high efficiency creates opportunities to reduce compressor power or increase throughput using the same amount of power.
Tolerate debris, not downtime
StraightFlo™ valves can improve compressor reliability, whether you’re working with clean gas, dirty gas, gas with liquids, gas with solids, multi-phase gas, or gases with mole weights from Hydrogen to Carbon Dioxide.
They are debris-tolerant by design, with no coil springs and durable metallic reeds that allow contaminants to pass through the valve without damaging sealing surfaces.
That is why they can run longer and provide greater service life than conventional valves in tough applications. .
Make a meaningful difference in emissions reduction
The durability and reliability of StraightFlo™ valves can reduce maintenance events and the need for blowdowns and flaring.
These emissions reductions can help you reach decarbonization targets.
Valve repair - in minutes, on site
Modular design makes StraightFlo™ valves easy to service.
All wear is contained in replaceable modules, so there’s no damage to the more expensive metallic valve housings.
It takes only 10 to 15 minutes to service a StraightFlo valve, on-site, with no machining or skilled labor required.
Save space & money on inventory
StraightFlo modules are standardized and interchangeable. This means the same part number can be used on numerous compressors of varying makes and models.
Accordingly, only 4 to 6 module types are needed for an entire fleet or facility.
In fact, StraightFlo™ valves users report reductions in their valve inventory by up to 80%.
Advantages include space savings in your warehouse, service truck, or offshore platform, as well as cost savings from eliminating a large number of parts.
