Italian component manufacturer Castel has introduced a new line of stainless steel CO2 ball valves (6588E) that operate up to 150bar (2,176psi) and 150°C (302°F), and are made without brazing or welding between the valve body and connections.
Castel produces CO2 transcritical/subcritical and hydrocarbon components suitable for applications like heat pumps, industrial refrigeration, commercial and industrial air conditioning, refrigerated transportation and supermarket installations. It has made CO2 components since 2011.
Castel’s other series 65-E CO2 ball valves operate between 60 and 140bar (870 and 2,031psi). Their connections range from 6 to 73mm (0.24 to 2.9in).
In the new 150bar ball valve, the lack of brazing or welding (only one weld exists in the valve) “reduces drastically the possible leakage points,” and translates to “a more solid and resistant valve structure suitable for high pressures,” said Castel on its website.
The ball valves can be used in all parts of the system, such as liquid, suction, and gas bypass lines, Castel said.
Castel noted that a ball valve no longer has the sole purpose of isolating a part of the system in the event of faults or maintenance, but also “plays a key role in controlling efficiency.” But in order to do this, the ball valve must be “controlled by an intelligent system” capable of performing operations such as heat recovery, bypass of heat exchangers, and defrosting for flooded heat exchangers. “Castel is up to this technological challenge,” the company said.
“Ball valves plays a key role in controlling efficiency”
Castel
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