The world’s largest gate valve was designed and manufactured by Blackhall Valves for the Integrated Pipeline Project in Texas, a $2 billion initiative to meet the water demands of a rapidly growing population. This high-pressure, 108-inch Parallel Faced Metal Seated Gate Valve is considered to be the largest of its kind in the world. It weighs over 100 tons and stands an impressive 40 feet tall.
Modern engineering technology has made it possible to predict the lifecycle of this valve, which is expected to last over a century. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was used to simulate and predict the structural behaviors and capabilities of the valve under various operating conditions. Even Computational Seismic Analysis was employed to understand the valve’s sustainability during natural events like earthquakes.