Nowadays, oxygen is widely used in different sectors such as medicine, aerospace or industry. In many industrial systems, shut-off valves are installed. The moving parts of these valves are often treated with oil and grease as lubricant to achieve easy motion and reduced friction and in case of oil residues resulting from production. If the valves get in touch with oxygen, however, caution is required. Oxygen is a dangerous source of ignition for oil and grease and also a high number of metals and metal alloys burn in contact with oxygen. This can result in serious accidents.
In order to ensure a safe usage of oxygen valves, it is essential to obey specific rules. Only trained and instructed persons are allowed to work with oxygen. The first priority is to avoid and remove inflammable contaminations. This means that all valve and system components which get in touch with oxygen are cleaned and degreased for oxygen service. That is, they must be free of
- cinder, rust or welding particles and steel material as well as loose components or components that might detach during service of the system
- oil, grease and solvents
- other foreign materials and particles such as packaging material, rust preventives and swarf
Furthermore, it must be avoided to touch the valve components with oily cloths or greasy fingers and it is not allowed to wear oily or greasy clothes during assembly. Components contaminated by oil and grease must be cleaned immediately by using special solvents or cleaning procedures for oxygen use.
M-tech valves are suitable for high-pressure oxygen service
All valves of the series MPG are designed for oxygen service. We only use materials that are compatible with oxygen. Our valves are cleaned in a special ultrasonic cleaning station and mounted in a clean room which meets the purity requirements of class ISO 7 according to DIN EN ISO 14644-1. Valves, valve components, connection pieces, seal kits, o-rings etc. are double vacuum-packed in foil. Holes are closed with cleaned plastic plugs. In the end, the vacuum bags are labeled „cleaned and degreased for oxygen service“. In addition, the enclosed inspection certificate confirms that the requirements for oxygen service have been fulfilled.
Our MPG valves have been inspected by the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung- und prüfung (German Institution for Materials Research and Testing, abbreviation BAM). In this test, the resistance of internal ignition under oxygen pressure strokes of 420 bar and 60° Celsius was examined. The test was subject to the latest safety-related requirements of the Accident Prevention Regulation (UVV “Sauerstoff”) BGV B7 (formerly VBG 62).
A safe working with oxygen is only possible with profound knowledge of the specific characteristics of oxygen and by taking into account the requirements resulting from that.