Status and Characteristics of Gas Pipeline Valves
ShenZhen Jakeconn Precision Technology Co., Ltd. , https://www.jakeconn.com
October 01 07:08:23, 2025
**First, China's Natural Gas Industry Status Quo and Prospects**
With China's long-term high-speed economic growth, the demand for energy has significantly increased. At the same time, people are becoming more concerned about their quality of life and environmental protection. The West-East Gas Pipeline, East-West Gas Pipeline, and the import of Russian natural gas have all highlighted the importance of natural gas as a clean, high-quality energy source. The Chinese government has placed great emphasis on the development of this sector.
China Gas has established 46 joint ventures in over a dozen provinces along the East-West Gas Pipeline and the East Sichuan Gas Pipeline, investing in more than 50 natural gas pipeline projects. This number is expected to grow as the company continues to expand its market presence. These projects not only support domestic energy needs but also contribute to the country’s long-term energy strategy.
The successful implementation of the West-East Gas Pipeline Project has significantly improved China’s natural gas infrastructure. It laid the foundation for the formation of a national pipeline network and brought China’s pipeline construction closer to international standards. The project has evolved towards long-distance, large-diameter, high-pressure, and highly automated systems, providing a solid base for the rapid development of the natural gas industry.
The West-East Gas Pipeline, stretching from Xinjiang’s Lunan through 10 provinces and municipalities, covers approximately 4,000 kilometers and has a designed annual gas transmission capacity of 12 billion cubic meters. Currently, the pipeline delivers around 17 billion cubic meters annually. Two large underground gas storage facilities are being built in the middle and lower reaches of the pipeline.
This massive project traverses challenging terrains such as the Gobi Desert, Loess Plateau, and Taihang Mountains, crossing major rivers like the Yellow River, Huaihe River, and Yangtze River. It is currently the largest diameter, thickest-walled, and highest-pressure pipeline in China, setting multiple domestic records and even achieving world-leading speeds in pipeline construction.
Looking ahead, China aims to build a comprehensive five-horizontal and two-vertical national natural gas pipeline network. This will include the West-East Gas Pipeline, North-to-South Gas Supply, offshore and air-landed gas supply routes, and regional networks across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Northwest, and Two Lakes areas. This strategic plan will ultimately create a diversified energy supply system with a broad market reach.
**Second, Characteristics of Natural Gas Pipeline Valves**
As the natural gas pipeline industry grows, the use of pipeline valves has become increasingly critical. These valves differ from ordinary ones in several key aspects:
**1. Material Selection**
Natural gas often contains hydrogen sulfide, a highly toxic and corrosive gas that can damage equipment before desulfurization. Even after treatment, residual hydrogen sulfide remains. Therefore, corrosion-resistant materials, particularly anti-sulfur materials, are essential for valve construction.
**2. Leakage Control**
Most natural gas pipelines run near urban areas and are difficult to monitor continuously. Leaks can lead to serious accidents, especially in densely populated regions. To prevent this, many valves are designed with welded body structures. Sealing components must be corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant, self-lubricating, and flexible. Modern polymer materials like PTFE, nylon, NBR, and VITON offer excellent options for sealing.
**3. Application Requirements**
Once operational, pipelines must run continuously for years without interruption. Unlike industrial plants, they cannot be shut down easily. Natural gas serves millions of users, including households, businesses, and factories. Any valve failure could cause catastrophic consequences. Thus, mainline valves must have a service life of over 30 years, with durable sealing parts such as valve seats.
**4. Drive Mechanisms**
Due to high pressure and large diameters, pipeline valves require high-torque drives, such as electric, pneumatic, or electro-hydraulic systems. They must also meet explosion-proof standards (EExd IIB T4, IP68). In case of emergencies, valves should automatically shut off. They need to operate smoothly under temperature and external force changes, with accurate position indicators for quick response. Emergency shut-off valves must remain open for long periods and close rapidly when needed.