VLB

Engineering
GREAT Solutions

Steam Conditioning Valve

VLB

VLB: Steam Conditioning Valve

The VLB is an angle-style steam conditioning valve, used as high/low pressure turbine bypass or as
a process valve. The VLB acts as a conduit for steam passing between two pressure systems. It is
designed to reduce the pressure and temperature of the steam flowing from the higher pressure system
to match the requirements of the lower pressure system. The valve has been equipped with a series
of pressure reducing stages as well as a desuperheating stage close to its outlet. Regulation of the
pressure is performed using a modulating plug, revealing a series of perforations in the valve bonnet as
the valve opens. Regulation of the temperature is performed using an external spray water control valve.
Spray water injection takes place in the valve outlet, using a series of mechanically atomising nozzles.

Key features
The bypass valve is connected in parallel > Homogenous forged body minimises
with a steam turbine, acting as a secondary thermal stress
conduit between two adjacent pressure
> Fully customisable inlet and outlet
systems. Because the two pressure
connections
systems may feature widely divergent
pressures and temperatures, the bypass > Available in balanced tight design which
valve must be capable of regulating these reduces the required opening forces
aspects in a controlled and
predictable manner. Pressure seal bonnet
> Upstream steam flow and downstream
temperature is measured and used in
regulating pass through and spray water
injection. Steam passes through the
extended drilled bonnet before being
throttled though a cage type plug with
multiple drilled holes which provides
optimum characteristics for control of
steam pressure
Plug / cage
> The extended bonnet prevents possible
rotation forces caused by the steam flow,
and acts as an extra pressure reducing Pressure reducing
stage. The extended bonnet also works pipes
as a strainer, protecting the valve seat and
bonnet from damages
> The plug slides in a hard surface hardened
body covering/uncovering throttling holes,
regulating the flow through the valve. In
its closed position, the plug seats on the
hard-faced seat, isolating the inlet from
the outlet
> Pressure reduction continues in the outlet,
through the perforated cylinders. The
cylinders increase the steam velocity and
turbulence, improving the evaporation of
the spray water
> Spray water flow is controlled by an
external water control valve before being Spray water nozzle
injected into the steam flow
Benefits
> Allows controlled startup and shutdown
of different loops in the power plant with
minimum heat losses
> Handles abnormal conditions such as
rejection, turbine, pump or fan trips etc. in
a manner to return the system to normal
operation with minimum delay
> Customised for each specific application
> Fully machined circular section valve > Reduced maintenance cost and downtime
body reduces thermal stress, improves
> Low noise
thermal cycling and increases the life time
of the valve. > Customised inlet/outlet connections to
suit customer steam pipes
> High performance and stable control
despite pressure, flow and > Complies with the following standards:
temperature transients ASME, SIL, PED, IBR, CRN, FaMA, MoM,
Gost, ISO 9001/14001/18001
> Keeps the steam in balance with load
requirements e.g. in process industries

Design
> Pressure reduction and > Actuation
noise abatement
The VLB features multi-stage pressure
reduction with single-stage controllability.
Through-put is controlled by a modulating
plug. The initial pressure reduction takes
place at the drilled bonnet cage. A
second stage is positioned in the outlet,
where the level of pressure reduction
is finalised. Pressure reduction in both
The actuator is installed on top of the
valve and fastened using a yoke. The
yoke provides both rotation stop and a
place for mounting limit switches.
IMI CCI can supply pneumatic, hydraulic
or electrical actuators sized to handle
the forces needed to open and close the 100%
valve at the required stroke time, and to 90%
compensate for the forces caused by the 80%

stages is achieved using perforated system pressure pushing against the plug. 70%
60%
cylinders, where small holes are breaking
> Design options 𝐾𝑣 50%
the steam up into smaller fluid jets. This 𝐾𝑣𝑠
IMI CCI has developed a series of design 40%
has the result of reducing noise as well as 30%
options for the VLB trim. Customisations
shaping the flow pattern for more efficient 20%
can be accommodated based on 10%
desuperheating downstream.
customer demand, including preheating 0%

> Desuperheating and drainage connections.

The VLB features a series of spray water Valve stroke

evaporating nozzles inserted in its outlet. The image shows how at the first ~15% of
Spray water is supplied to the nozzles the valve stroke, the change in flow coefficient
through a water pipe encircling the outlet. increases only by 5%. After this point, it
The pressure reducing pipes create a flow becomes linear.
pattern which directs the flow of steam
and spray water away from valve outlet
walls, while increasing the velocity of
steam passing by the spray nozzles.
This gives efficient mixing of water 20
2060

and steam and is a key factor for

desuperheating performance. 15
4030

> Construction 2880

Δp (bar)

The VLB features a fully forged valve body, 10

2025
2830

designed to withstand rapid temperature 4010

5630

changes. Inlets and outlets are circular 5

in order to prevent asymmetrical stress 5610

patterns. The seat facing is made of a 0

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

tough material with excellent sealing Q0 (l/h*1000)

properties and good resistance against Capacity curves for a single nozzle with
corrosion. Plug and stem are made of standard spring settings
heat and corrosion resistant material,
hardened in a unique process. Both inlet
and outlet pipe diameters are designed to
fit the steam pipes.
The valve features a vacuum tight
pressure seal bonnet, allowing easy
maintenance and removes the need for
tightening using screws.
Applications
> High pressure system
- Pressure control / turbine bypass
- Controlled pressure buildup in
the boiler
- Protection against exceeding the
design pressure
> Low pressure system > Process industry
- Controlled pressure buildup in - Controlled pressure in steam pipes
the reheater to process, in parallel with the back
pressure turbine
- Pressure control / bypass of the
intermediate and low pressure parts - Provides the process with steam flow
of the turbine. This helps avoid during startup of the turbine
the release of safety valves and
- Fast takeover of the entire steam flow
consequently helps to prevent large
from boiler to process in case the
condensate losses.
turbine stops/trips
- Protection of the condenser in case
- Suitable with large quantities of
of disturbances
cooling water

Spray nozzle operating principle

The atomising spray nozzle is housed 1. Pipe leg
inside a nozzle holder inserted into the pipe 2. Nozzle stud
outlet. Water is routed through the pipe
leg and the nozzle chamber before being
3.  Flange
supplied to the spray nozzle. 4. Packing
> The nozzle itself has a spring loaded
11 5. Gasket
plug which extends as the pressure in
6. Nozzle holder
the nozzle holder increases. The amount 7.  Spray water atomising nozzle
of water being injected by each nozzle
is determined by a number of factors,
including the diameter of the nozzle body
opening, adjustment of the spring, and
the pressure differential between the
steam inside the desuperheater and the
water pipeline.
2
2 55 66 77
> The cooling water enters the inner
nozzle chamber through a number of
water channels. Water is rotated around
the nozzle plug thanks to the special
arrangement of the water channels. The
plug and the seat are designed to create
maximum water velocity at the nozzle
edge point. The high velocity of the water
when it leaves the nozzle guarantees
fine atomisation, quickly evaporating the
spray water.
44
> In order to maintain a specific opening
water pressure inside the inner nozzle
chamber, the nozzle plug is preloaded by
3
3
a spring. The force required to open the
nozzle is set by the adjustment nut. 7
> Spring strength and adjustment nut
settings are chosen based on the
pressure differential between the outlet
steam and the water. Pressure inside the
waterline must be high enough to prevent
the water from flashing before exiting the
nozzle chamber.
> As the spray nozzles sprays
perpendicular to the steam flow, the
high relative velocity of water to steam
creates an efficient secondary level
of atomisation.
Configurations
> Balanced Tight design (BTC) > Balanced design (BC) > Tight plug (TC)
Selected when leakage tightness Selected together with pneumatic, Selected when leakage tightness
according to ANSI FCI 70-2/EN 1349 hydraulic or electric actuators where the according to ANSI FCI 70-2 / EN 1349
class V is required and pneumatic leakage tightness according to ANSI FCI class V is required. No pilot plug or
actuators preferred. Excellent selection 70-2/EN 1349 class III or IV pressure normalising.
also together with hydraulic and electric is acceptable.
actuators. The pilot plug design makes it
possible to reduce the actuating force
by normalising the pressure in the valve
and bonnet.

VLB-BTC VLB-BC VLB-TC

Product specification

Valve sizes Leakage class SIL classification

8 - 500mm seat diameter ANSI Class V for valves with tight plug (TC) SIL level up to 3 achievable for both quick
Other sizes available on request Class III or IV for others. open and quick close depending on
system configuration.
Pressure class ratings Rangeability
Up to ANSI-4500 (higher rating on request) 1-40 Materials
Above DN400 Forged material adapted to connecting
Regulatory standards pipe material.
Design temperature ASME, PED, IBR, CRN, FaMA, MoM, Gost,
Up to 650°C ISO 9001/14001/18001, SIL

Example

1. Steam turbine HP
2. Steam turbine LP
3. VLB HP bypass to cold reheat
2 4. VLB bypass to condenser
3 5. VST-SE bypass to auxiliary steam
6. VLB to auxiliary
1 TT. Temperature transmitter
PT. Pressure transmitter
4 ZT. Position transmitter
DCS. Customer DCS
6

5
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