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Issues with AHF/ TIH Tank Car Valves

  • SHIPPING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS BY RAILS?

  • USING EXPENSIVE, HARD-TO-GET 30+ YEAR OLD VALVES?

  • STRUGGLING WITH LEAKS/ PERFORMANCE/ REPAIRS?

  • LOOKING FOR A BETTER SOLUTION? KEEP READING…

Railway tank cars transport liquids; some inert, some flammable and some highly poisonous & very toxic. Each commodity requires particular preparation and care in handling, to ensure it is safely loaded, secured, transported and then unloaded. In most cases, shippers have a variety of manufacturer/ valve options to pick from. In the case of the most dangerous of commodities, they only have the one option and for various reasons, it’s not ideal…

Monopolistic status quo

Having the one supplier and without competition, customers have to accept whatever they are offered. Unfortunately, this can also mean living with a product that has issues, where supply is intermittent (up to 52 weeks late), poor customer service is mixed and no checks on pricing.  

 Eliminating known leak paths, improving safety and extending qualification periods

In 2020, TransQuip was approached by a number of shippers seeking lethal-service tank car valve alternatives for an array of highly dangerous commodities. Leaks were occurring in numerous places and no matter what they tried, nothing would consistently remedy the issues they were experiencing. Some shippers upgraded body materials, others reworked their maintenance and loading procedures, all to no avail.

With no alternatives for these specialized services, TransQuip partnered with Fort Vale (UK); globally renowned for their transportation valves in these highly dangerous commodities. In addition, due to Fort Vale (uniquely) having its own foundry onsite, they control the entire manufacturing process and their leads time are typically a fraction of their peers.

Industry Input – Solutions

It quickly became apparent, inherent design flaws were the basis of the problems, not material compatibility or manufacturing defects.  Worryingly, it has been over 30 years since any new valves, designed specifically for these shippers has entered the AAR arena. Needless to say, since the 1990s, much has changed in the industrial valve world, but not in rail.

Seeking extensive industry feedback, we surveyed shippers, car builders, industry groups and loaders for their input. What would a 2020’s valve package look like? What would best-of-best look like? We compiled everyone’s wish list, applied numerous global, industry-specific standards, built prototypes - then repeated the entire process until we had developed something the industry agreed met all their needs.

After 3 years of research, design and extensive testing, we finalized two new designs (AHF/ TIH & Chlorine), resolving all the unspoken issues, greatly improving safety with features never seen or used in rail, providing greater efficiency and potentially extending the shorter qualification periods these services currently require.

INTRODUCING THE NEW AHF/ TIH DUAL (SHEAR-OFF) VALVE PACKAGE BY FORT VALE (UK).

In developing this package, Fort Vale resolved not just the major safety issues shared, but on everyday minor annoyances. In equal measure, everything has been meticulously designed to offer the industry a safer, more robust, more efficient package. This design requires less adjustments, less maintenance and potentially longer qualifications intervals…

 

ANGLE & CHECK VAVLE (Solutions / Features & Benefits): -

  • Non-Rising Stem with Laser Etched Open/ Close Indicator – low torque mechanism requires less than 2” of linear travel to fully open/ close

  • Dry Disconnect Sealing - provides metal-to-metal sealing (Fire-Tite)

  • Top Loaded Check Valve – eliminates thread weld distortion and known alignment issues with angle valve

  • Minimal Vold Cavity – eliminates potential for corrosive media build up

  • Innovative SEALTYT Stem Seal – maintains constant pressure, mitigates cold temperature creep and requires minimum stem adjustments

  • 6-Bolt Outlet Flange – eliminates know leak issues from weight of stabber pipes

  • Anti Galling Plug – 416 Rockwell Hardened stainless steel with innovative easy alignment guide

  • Improved Flow – 40% greater flow vs current options

  • Powell & ERK approved – Midland & Indian Springs

     

SAFETY VAVLE (Solutions / Features & Benefits): -

  • Hastelloy Body

  • Inconel Springs – Competitor uses Stainless Steel

  • Monel central stem guide

  • Increased Flow – 11348 SCFM vs Competitors 7299 SCFM

  • Floating Pressure (O-Ring sealed) plate – ensure perfect recentering in event of a release

  • Tell-tell indicator

  • Compatible with C-Kit

  


RUPTURE DISC (Solutions / Features & Benefits): -

  • Reverse Acting (Upside Down) -

    Can absorb 90% MAWP pressure cycling without fatigue

    Mitigates premature failures from pressure fatigue and car-humping

  • Non-Fragmenting - Disc petals do not interfere with safety valve

  • Sealed with 2x primary & 1x secondary O-Rings -

    Eliminates current potential leak path

Next Steps -

Safety is always first and foremost in every car owners/ shipper’s mind. Now that there is a second option, there really is only one option. By every measure, this new Fort Vale package is superior to what the industry is currently using. Every facet of this package has numerous safety features not currently available in other valves. Each component has been optimized and offers on average 40% greater flow, has been significantly strengthened (body thickness) as well as intelligently interconnected to ensure perfect form, fit and function.

If you’d like more information, visit TransQuip’s website (https://www.transquip.com/ahf-tih-eo) or contact us (https://www.transquip.com/contact)

Emanuel Guerreiro