Fisher Instruction Manual: Graphite Ribbon/Filament Packing for Fisher Sliding-Stem Valves Manuals & Guides

Instruction Manual

D100433X012

Graphite Packing for Sliding-Stem

Graphite Ribbon/Filament Packing for

™

Fisher

Contents

Introduction 1.................................

Scope of Manual 1.............................

Description 1.................................

Storage and Startup 2...........................

Packing Installation 2...........................

Parts Ordering 7................................

Introduction

Scope of Manual

Sliding‐Stem Valves

July 2017

This manual provides instructions for installing graphite ribbon and filament packing in sliding‐stem valves‐‐either as
part of the field maintenance procedure for valves that originally were equipped with this kind of packing or when
field‐replacing other kinds of packing.

Use this manual along with the appropriate valve body instruction manual. Refer to the valve body manual for
disassembly, packing removal, reassembly after the packing has been installed, and for packing part numbers and kits.

Do not install, operate, or maintain this packing without being fully trained and qualified in valve, actuator, and
accessory installation, operation, and maintenance. To avoid personal injury or property damage, it is important to
carefully read, understand, and follow all the contents of this manual, including all safety cautions and warnings. If you
have any questions about these instructions, contact your Emerson sales office or Local Business Partner before
proceeding.

Description

Graphite ribbon/filament packing is a low‐chloride, corrosion‐resistant packing for use with hard‐to‐handle fluids,
especially high‐temperature steam or water. It can be used in temperatures from -18 to 538_C (0 to 1000_F) in
non‐oxidizing service or from -18 to 371_C (0 to 700_F) in oxidizing service. Because the packing rings are certified to
contain no more than 100 ppm of chloride, this packing is also frequently used in radioactive nuclear service and will
withstand a gamma radiation dosage to 1.0 X 10

Graphite ribbon/filament packing comes in three different arrangements of graphite ribbon rings, graphite filament
rings, and sacrificial zinc washers. The three different arrangements are single (figures 1 and 2), double (figure 3), and
leak‐off (figure 4).

7

Rads or 50 R/hour.

www.Fisher.com

Graphite Packing for Sliding-Stem

July 2017

The graphite ribbon rings are made from a long ribbon of flexible graphite which is wound into a ring and then pressed
tightly together. The flexible graphite contains a non‐metallic, inorganic, passivating inhibitor for corrosion and
oxidation resistance. Graphite filament rings consist of filaments of graphite braided together. One sacrificial zinc
washer is used under each graphite ring to protect the valve from pitting and corrosion attack.

Instruction Manual

D100433X012

Storage and Startup

If a valve will be stored for a long period of time, remove the packing rings from the packing box to prevent corrosion.
When ordering a valve that will be stored, notify Emerson Automation Solutions and the valve will be shipped from the
factory with the packing box empty and a special packing follower with O‐ring gland seal installed between the
packing flange and bonnet shoulder. All the other packing parts shown in figure 2, 3, or 4 will be shipped with the
control valve assembly but in a separate bag or wrapper.

Leave the special packing follower in place until after any hydrostatic testing is completed. Then remove the follower,
thoroughly air‐dry the packing box, and install all the packing parts according to the appropriate arrangement
drawing. The special packing follower can be saved for future hydrostatic testing, or discarded if it will no longer be
used.

WARNING

Personal injury could result from packing leakage. Valve packing was tightened prior to shipment; however some
readjustment will be required to meet specific service conditions.

CAUTION

When using any packing at low temperatures, frost must not be allowed to form on the valve stem. Valve stem frost can
damage packing as the stem travels through the packing rings.

Packing Installation

Packing parts are subject to normal wear and must be inspected and replaced as necessary. The frequency of
inspection and replacement of parts depends upon the severity of service conditions or the requirements of local,
state, and federal rules and regulations.

WARNING

Avoid personal injury or property damage from sudden release of process pressure or bursting of parts. Before performing
any maintenance operations:

D Do not remove the actuator from the valve while the valve is still pressurized.

D Always wear protective gloves, clothing, and eyewear when performing any maintenance operations to avoid personal

injury.

D Disconnect any operating lines providing air pressure, electric power, or a control signal to the actuator. Be sure the

actuator cannot suddenly open or close the valve.

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Instruction Manual

D100433X012

Graphite Packing for Sliding-Stem

July 2017

D Use bypass valves or completely shut off the process to isolate the valve from process pressure. Relieve process pressure

from both sides of the valve. Drain the process media from both sides of the valve.

D Vent the pneumatic actuator loading pressure and relieve any actuator spring precompression.

D Use lock‐out procedures to be sure that the above measures stay in effect while you work on the equipment.

D The valve packing box may contain process fluids that are pressurized, even when the valve has been removed from the

pipeline. Process fluids may spray out under pressure when removing the packing hardware or packing rings, or when
loosening the packing box pipe plug.

D Check with your process or safety engineer for any additional measures that must be taken to protect against process

media.

1. Refer to the appropriate valve body and actuator instruction manuals. Disassemble the control valve as required to

gain access to the packing box. Remove the packing box components.

2. Examine the valve stem. The surface that contacts the packing must be smooth and free of scratches and nicks. If

another style of graphite packing had been installed, the packing may have left a black deposit of graphite coating
on the stem. If this deposit has built up or has affected the valve stem finish, the stem should be polished to a 0.1
micro‐meter (4 micro‐inch) RMS finish.

3. Thoroughly clean and dry the packing cavity, valve stem, and all metal packing parts (packing box ring, lantern ring,

and packing follower). Also, clean the threads of the packing flange studs and nuts (figure 1). Lubricate these
threads and the faces of the packing flange nuts during the remainder of the installation with a moly disulfide or
equivalent type of lubricant.

4. Select the correct installation figure reference according to the valve design and packing arrangement (single,

double, or leak‐off).

5. Install the metal packing parts (figures 2, 3, or 4) that go to the bottom of the packing cavity.

WARNING

To avoid valve leakage during operation or personal injury, it is necessary, when installing the packing, to avoid trapping
air between the rings and to give side support to the rings so they do not spread out under the compression of adding more
rings. This may be accomplished by installing only one ring at a time.

6. Install only one packing ring at a time. Push each of the new packing rings into the packing box until it presses

against the ring below it.

If installing double or leak‐off packing, start the last lower packing ring and then force all the lower packing rings and
lantern ring(s) all the way into the packing cavity. Then install the upper packing rings in the same manner.

Figure 1. Typical Single Packing Arrangement Shown Installed in Bonnet

PACKING FLANGE STUD
PACKING FLANGE NUT

PACKING FLANGE

GRAPHITE
FILAMENT
PACKING RINGS

LANTERN RINGS

PACKING BOX
RING

A5507

PACKING FOLLOWER

GRAPHITE RIBBON
PACKING RINGS

SACRIFICIAL ZINC WASHER

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