PRODUCTION ENGINEERING LABORATORY

Welcome to SPETECH^®: the name to trust in field of Special Gaskets & Packings for high performance applications

SPETECH^® has been in the industrial sealing systems for 30 years. Through all this time we’ve been collecting experience and supplying our products to 100 countries around the World. We believe that high quality products can only be manufactured with highest care taken during whole process of production. That is why our manufacturing centre is situated in Poland. European standards and regulations ensure the quality and readiness of our high duty applications. …. more

VALVES TESTS ACC API 624

Our Laboratory performs tests for valves according to the API 624 standard, which is the main American testing standard for industrial valves. Our offer is directed to manufacturers of all kinds of control and on/off valves.

For more detailed information, sending your enquiry, or receiving a testing offer – please send us an email or use the dedicated contact to the laboratory page.

API 624 General Information

The API 624 – Type Testing of Rising Stem Valves Equipped with Graphite Packing for Fugitive Emissions, was issued in February 2014. This test uses methane as the medium for testing leakage. The standard covers rising and rising-rotating stem valves up to 24“ diameter and has to be performed on original valves. To qualify the valve for the API 624 testing, the packing must have previously qualified according to the API 622 test, which focuses on the packing sets in the valve.

Testing Temperature

API 624 mandates three thermal cycles ranging from room temperature to 500°F (260°C), with the option of one cycle at -20°F.

Testing Pressure

API 624 has a maximum test pressure of 600 psi or at the maximum operating pressure of the ANSI class. For example, an ANSI 150 with an operating pressure of 285 psi would be tested at such.

Mechanical Cycles

API 624 requires a flat, 310 cycles to pass the test.

Thermal Cycles

There are 310 mechanical cycles, three temperature cycles at 500°F, with the option of one cycle at -20°F.

Test Fluid and Allowable Leakage Criteria

API 624 uses methane and that is the only allowable test fluid. The API 624 plan uses the EPA Method 21 as the basis when evaluating the leakage of fugitive emissions and has an allowable leakage limit of 100 ppm. During the test, no stem seal adjustments are allowed.

Focus of Measurement

API 624 dictates focus on the performance of the packing in the valve (whereas ISO 15848-1 is also focused on the whole valve as a package). The general definitions of API 624 is that it is a valve-type test meant to evaluate the performance of the valve’s stuffing box/stem interface while using packing sets previously qualified to API 622, only measuring leakage at other joints to correct them and note their potential impact on leakage detected at the stem.

ISO 15848-1 Testing

Our Laboratory performs tests for valves according to the ISO 15848-1 standard, which is the main international testing standard for industrial valves. Our offer is directed to manufacturers of all kinds of control and on/off valves.