How to maintain stainless steel strainers
- Regular cleaning
External cleaning: Wipe the outer surface of the valve body with a soft cloth to remove dust, oil stains or residual corrosive substances. Avoid using steel wool balls or hard tools to prevent scratching the surface.
Internal cleaning: Remove the filter screen/filter element (first close the inlet and outlet valves, release the pressure and then operate). Rinse the filter screen with clean water or neutral detergent. For stubborn stains, gently brush them with a soft-bristled brush. For oil stains or chemical deposits, they can be soaked in alcohol or special solvents and then cleaned. After cleaning, thoroughly air dry or blow dry to prevent rust caused by residual water.
- Check the sealing performance
Seal inspection: Regularly check whether the sealing rings or gaskets at the valve stem, valve cover, flange, etc. are aged, deformed or worn (such as nitrile rubber, PTFE material).
Leakage test: After introducing the medium, observe whether there is any leakage. If leakage is found, the seals need to be replaced or the bolts tightened (note to tighten evenly in a diagonal sequence).
Valve seat and valve core: Check if the contact surface is smooth. If there are scratches or wear, it needs to be ground or replaced.
- Lubrication and maintenance
Lubrication of moving parts: Apply high-temperature grease or silicon-based lubricants to valve stems, threads, bearings and other parts (for valves used in the food industry, food-grade lubricants should be selected).
Frequency: Lubricate once every 3 to 6 months. In high-temperature or high-frequency usage environments, the cycle should be shortened.
- Check the filter elements
Filter screen/filter element status: Check for any damage, blockage or deformation. Minor blockages can be backflushed, while severe damage requires replacement.
Replacement cycle: Adjust according to the cleanliness of the medium. Generally, it should be replaced every 3 to 12 months (in the chemical industry, it may be more frequent).
- Anti-corrosion treatment
Surface passivation: If rust or white spots (chloride ion corrosion) are found on the surface, they can be treated with stainless steel passivation paste to restore the passivation film.
Environmental control: Avoid long-term contact of the valve with acidic/alkaline media or high-salt environments. Install protective covers when necessary.
- Precautions for operation
Slow opening and closing: Avoid water hammer impact caused by rapid opening and closing, which may damage the sealing surface.
Do not overpressure: Ensure that the working pressure does not exceed the rated pressure of the valve.
Regular drainage: For filters with drainage ports, drain once a week to prevent the accumulation of impurities.
- Regular comprehensive inspections
Annual major overhaul: Thoroughly disassemble the valve and inspect the wear of internal parts (such as springs, valve discs, guide sleeves).
Pressure test: When reinstalling after maintenance, a sealing test at 1.5 times the working pressure is required.
- Special circumstances handling
High-temperature medium: Check the thermal deformation of the valve to ensure that the material's temperature resistance grade matches.
Low-temperature medium: To prevent the sealing parts from becoming brittle at low temperatures, cold-resistant materials should be selected
- Maintenance record
It is recommended to establish a maintenance file, recording the time of each cleaning, lubrication and replacement of parts, as well as any abnormal situations, to facilitate the tracking of the equipment status.
Through the above system maintenance, the failure rate can be significantly reduced, ensuring the efficient operation of the stainless steel strainers. In case of complex problems (such as severe internal corrosion or structural damage), it is recommended to contact professional technicians for handling.
