Valves

manual valve

automated valve

Valves are required along the gas delivery system so that sections of the system can be isolated and shut down in the event of a leak or other emergency, or for controlling flow or performing maintenance. 

Valve applications include:

• Mainline valves shut off main flow stream.

• Tap valves shut off deliveries at offline delivery points.

• Blowdown valves release gas to de-energize a piping system.

• Station valves isolate compressor stations, pressure limiting stations, and metering stations.

• Emergency valves isolate pipeline sections or a facility in an emergency.

• MAOP valves isolate sections of system where maximum allowable operating pressures (MAOPs) are different.

• Therm billing area (TBA) valves isolate sections of system where gas Btu content is different.

• Relief valves release gas to atmosphere if pressure exceeds a set point.

• Excess flow valves automatically close if excess flow is sensed.

• Service valves shut off flow of gas to customer at the meter.

• Curb valves, located in the street or sidewalk, shut off services between the main and a customer meter (used when a service value at the meter might be inaccessible to a crew).

Most values are operated manually by a crew member, but some values are automated and may operate on their own given certain conditions or may be able to be operated remotely via electronic signal.

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• Natural gas delivery system