Check Valve Failures

Check valves are commonly used in the process industry for preventing back-flow or reverse flow.

Check valves achieve unidirectional flow by means of a mechanical partition – ball, diaphragm, disc.

When to Consider Check Valve Failure?

I can think of at least two occasions when you need to consider check valve failures and design for it.

Overpressure: If there is considerable pressure difference across the check valve and failure of check valve will lead to an overpressure situation.
Incompatible chemicals: If there is a situation where check valve failure can lead to mixing of incompatible chemicals

Reduce risks, Increase Uptime, Reduce costs

I did my first litigation support work in 2000.

Since then I have been obsessed with preventing future failures. Some of these failures can have catastrophic consequences.

Having tried various techniques, learning / unlearning “latest” paradigms, it is clear we have a long way to go!

But instead of thoughtful work, what I mostly see are platitudes and oversimplifications. No keen practical insights!

I want to change that.