What are the problems with fire sprinklers valve failure

Valve leakage is one of the common faults in industrial systems, which directly affects the safety and operating efficiency of the equipment. When the sealing performance of the valve seat sealing surface is reduced due to wear, corrosion or accumulation of impurities, the medium may leak from the inside of the valve. This leakage not only causes a waste of resources, but also may damage the surrounding facilities due to the impact of water flow, thereby affecting the stability of the building structure. More seriously, leakage will cause the system pressure to decrease. Especially in the event of a fire, the sprinkler may not be able to obtain sufficient pressure for effective fire extinguishing, thus delaying the best time to extinguish the fire. In addition, the deformation of the valve stem causes the valve disc and the valve seat to not fit tightly, which will also cause leakage problems and further weaken the fire extinguishing ability of the system.

The stuck phenomenon of the valve should not be ignored. In harsh environments such as high temperature, high pressure and strong corrosion, the valve is very likely to get stuck. When the materials of the valve chip and the valve housing do not match, the difference in thermal expansion coefficient may cause the valve to move inflexibly. In the event of a fire, the stuck valve cannot be opened normally, and the fire-fighting water cannot be delivered to the sprinkler in time, seriously affecting the fire-fighting effect. In addition, valves that have not been used for a long time may become stuck due to adhesion of the sealing surface, and cannot respond quickly in an emergency, which brings great difficulties to fire fighting.

The problem of valve blockage is also worthy of attention. If the design of the flow channel before and after the valve is unreasonable, or the content of suspended matter in the fluid is too high, it may cause blockage inside the valve. The blockage may include solid particles, sediments or corrosion products, which will hinder the normal flow of the medium and reduce the flow and working efficiency of the valve. When the blockage is serious, the valve may completely lose its function, resulting in the system being unable to supply water normally for fire fighting. In addition, blockage will also cause abnormal increase in pressure inside the valve, thereby increasing the risk of valve damage.

Abnormal vibration and noise of the valve are also common fault manifestations. When the valve is improperly selected and the parameters such as flow and pressure do not match the system, large pressure fluctuations may occur during operation, which will cause valve vibration and noise. Unstable support of the pipeline system will cause uneven force on the valve, thereby exacerbating the vibration phenomenon. Turbulence and impact caused by excessively high medium flow rate will also cause abnormal vibration and noise of the valve. The sealing performance of valves in this state for a long time will gradually decline, and the risk of component damage will increase, seriously affecting the normal operation of the system.

The corrosion problem of valves will significantly affect their service life and performance. Improper use in corrosive media and improper selection of valve materials will lead to damage to valve materials and degradation of performance. For example, using acid-resistant valve materials in acidic environments will cause serious rust. When the valve is in a humid environment for a long time, the oxygen in the air reacts chemically with the metal on the surface of the valve to form iron oxide, i.e. rust. If unsuitable valves are used in high temperature or high pressure environments, it will also accelerate the damage and rust of the valve. The sealing surface of the corroded valve usually becomes rough and uneven, resulting in poor sealing, which in turn affects the fire extinguishing effect.

To ensure the reliability and safety of the valve, regular maintenance and inspection are essential. Through effective management and technical means, the risk of valve failure can be reduced and the overall safety and operating efficiency of the system can be improved.