Reclamation Information Sharing Environment (RISE)

Flatiron Powerplant butterfly valves experience cavitation since the seats were replaced with stainless steel in 2010. Different linings have been used to reduce cavitation damage on the downstream side of the butterfly valves, with minimal success. Laboratory testing identified two commercial polyurethane elastomers that may provide better cavitation resistance than prior linings used in draft tubes for cavitation resistance. The two lining materials were selected for field trials on a Flatiron Powerplant Unit 2 butterfly valve as a cavitation repair material for filling the entire cavitation pit, i.e., without stainless steel weld repair. The butterfly valve has a moderate cavitation environment with an approximate pressure drop of 500 pounds per square inch.