Armstrong’s Steam Distribution and Condensate Collection Manifolds simplify your tracing applications. That’s because they bring all the components—steam traps, steam tracing manifolds, valves—together to reduce installation costs and provide a compact, easily accessible assembly that’s centrally located.

The many steam-tracing manifolds in chemical/petrochemical plants consume valuable floor space and often block movement among the units. Operating costs are high, and installation requires expensive custom fabrication on site. Clearly, a fabricated manifold that standardizes components offers substantial savings over conventional units.

Enter the piston valve

All of Armstrong’s manifolds use the piston valve because of its years of excellent performance in steam systems all over the world.

People who have used the piston valve during the past 90 years can testify that leakage to atmosphere is extremely rare, even without any maintenance. The elastic contact between piston and valve sealing rings provides perfect tightness, both in-line and to atmosphere.

Piston valve benefits

• Dual sealing action. The piston valve is a seatless valve that includes two graphite and stainless steel valve sealing rings that seal the stem and function as a seat. This combination provides long-term protection against leaks to the atmosphere and downstream piping.
• Self-cleaning action. The stainless steel piston slides without rotating between the two valve sealing rings, preventing dirt from damaging the surfaces.
• Sealing integrity. Flexible disc springs automatically provide leak tightness by exerting pressure, which keeps the upper and lower valve sealing rings compressed at all times. Sealing tightness is ensured by the compression of the sealing rings against the piston and valve body. This combination of disc springs and dual valve seal rings protects against expansion and contraction due to heating and cooling. This ensures dependable operation, even after years of service.
• Valve stem protection. The valve stem and sealing surfaces are completely protected from dirt and corrosion by the stem cap, whether the valve is in an open or closed position.
• In-line repairability. All the sealing valve components may be easily replaced in-line.
• Long-term operation. The piston valve design ensures actuation even after many years without operation.

Steam system valves, whatever their design, are used to isolate steam and condensate lines or when a faulty steam trap needs to be removed from the line. This means the valves stay in the open position for long periods and are nearly always in contact with the atmosphere.

It is not surprising, therefore, that when the valves must be closed, they can be difficult to operate. Our experience and the demands from end users for energy efficiency have led us to the piston valve as a sealing system of proven performance.