Client Background & Pain Points
A combined-cycle power plant (CCGT) in central Uzbekistan was expanding its units and required power plant valves for its thermal systems. The client was a local power company and the engineering was carried out by a regional engineering contractor. Winter temperatures at the site are low while the steam system operates at relatively high temperature and pressure, so high-temperature materials and low-temperature sealing form a dual challenge; cross-border transport must use the Central Asian corridor, where the railway gauge changes en route and logistics lead times are long.
Scope of Supply: Power Plant Valves for Uzbekistan
Gate and globe valves for high-temperature, high-pressure steam service (DN50–DN300, Class 600/900), with chrome-molybdenum steel selected for high-temperature duty; feedwater and condensate system valves, extraction and bypass check valves; circulating cooling water butterfly valves (DN300–DN800). All were verified to pressure-equipment codes — approximately 260 units in total.
Implementation (Key Milestones & Issue Handling)
After award, scheduling was back-calculated from railway transport and gauge-change cycles, with extended transit time reserved. For high-temperature items, manufacturing focused on material heat treatment and hardness control, with hard-alloy hardfacing on sealing faces; for winter installation conditions, material toughness verification and seal compatibility confirmation were added for components used in low-temperature environments. One difficulty arose because the external dimensions of some large-diameter valves interfered with the existing insulation thickness of on-site piping; supplying to the original dimensions would have caused rework at installation. After consultation, we provided local dimension recommendations for insulation clearance and kept necessary allowance at the flange connections, and the site proceeded with the adjusted positions. A further compromise was the client’s wish to compress the commissioning period; we supported this by completing single-unit stroke tests in advance, moving part of the commissioning work ahead of equipment arrival. Goods travelled by rail via the Central Asian corridor in four batches, with customs documents and local-language instructions.
Delivery Outcome: Power Plant Valves Arriving in Uzbekistan
From award to full equipment arrival took about eight months. After commissioning, the thermal system ran stably with no anomalies in the high-temperature steam line valves. Both sides agreed on half-yearly remote follow-up, with spares stocked to the longest replacement cycle.
Lessons Learned
For Central Asian power projects, logistics lead time and winter conditions are the two hard constraints. First, scheduling must be back-calculated from railway gauge-change and transit time, not estimated from sea-freight experience. Second, heat treatment and hardness control of high-temperature materials are the core of quality, and material toughness in low-temperature environments must also be verified. Third, for cross-border projects, local-language operation and installation instructions should be provided to reduce on-site misunderstanding.
ASME B31.1 power piping https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/b31-1-power-piping
ASME B16.34 valve standard https://www.asme.org/codes-standards/find-codes-standards/b16-34-valves-flanged-threaded-welding-end
