VALVE MAGAZINE Winter 2025

CARBON FOOTPRINT OF 3D PRINTING

For the small valve results, however, the traditional disk stack replacement was the least favorable option. It contrib uted 1,130 kg CO 2 -eq. This is noticeably more than the 988 kg CO 2 -eq for the full valve replacement. This was due to the raw materials required for replacing 10 traditional disk stacks over the 10 years. Extra work was carried out to determine the sensitivity of these results against assumptions made about the mode of transport, valve lifetimes and the frequency of replacement. Even with these factors, the additive replacement scenario still proved favorable. Consideration was also given to assumptions about the frequency of replacements. Even with a “”tipping point” factored into the results, the additive disk stack still outper

For the small valve, this represented: • An 87% climate change impact saving when compared with replacement of the full valve via traditional manufacturing. • An 85% climate change impact saving when compared with replacement of the disk stack only via traditional manufacturing. Unsurprisingly, for the large valve, the least favor able scenario in terms of climate change impact was replacement of the full valve at 34,000 kg CO 2 -eq. This was due to the body component, which required more m aterial and resources ahead of delivery to a customer site. MSS SP-161-2024, Guidelines for Classifying the Severity of Valve Service Conditions

formed the other two scenarios. It was determined that an additive disk stack would need to be replaced every two or three months to be less favorable than the traditional replacement options. 1. pwc.com/gx/en/issues/esg/ decarbonising-value-chain.html 2. ESA European sealing assoc. Pub. No. 014/05 3. ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics explained/index.php?title=Glossary: Carbon_dioxide_equivalent Editor’s note: As standards organizations evaluate the safety, reliability and compli ance aspects of additive manufacturing of valve and valve components, this study clearly found that additively manufac tured parts can offer time and cost savings to valve users.

SP-161 provides the user with guidance and a method with which to classify and categorize valves based on service conditions they will encounter in an intended application. This new standard is important to industry because it provides users a tool to guide their requirements and specifications for severe service valves, to better manage safety, environmental risks, and cost.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

msshq.org/page/ ActiveStandards Scroll to SP-161 for details.

Bertrand Maillon uses his extensive experience in product development and manufacturing at IMI, where he leads the Retrofit3D team. Retrofit3D addresses complex customer challenges with custom made valve trim solutions made using the latest additive manufacturing techniques. Bertrand champions digital production as a gamechanger for reducing carbon footprints and reimagining supply chains.

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VALVE MAGAZINE

WINTER 2025