GAS CHARGING VALVE FAQs
What is the pressure rating for Triton Valves?
Triton 10 Series – 10,000 psi
Triton 6 Series – 6,000 psi
Triton 3 Series – 3,000 psi
Triton RCV - 10,000 psi
Why is Triton Tooling required for Installation?
Triton valves are designed for dedicated torque tools to engage torque drive grooves on the valve itself. This is an HSE feature to prevent a technician from using a wrench and unscrewing a valve that contains pressure.
Can I install a Triton valve with a tool such as a pipe wrench?
No. Using common tools to install a Triton 10 series will damage the outer sealing surface which may cause the charging head not seal during charging operations. Using non-specified tools can defeat the HSE feature and is expressly forbidden in our user manual and field warranty.
How long will a Triton valve last in the field?
All valves carry a 3 year field warranty. With proper maintenance and minimal repair the valve should last 4-5 years. We have one client that has been running Triton valves on the BOP stack for 4 years continuously and are planning on running the valve 5+ years.
Is the Triton 10 Series the only charging valve capable of subsea application?
No. The Triton 6 Series is comprised of the same materials as the Triton 10 Series. The Triton 3 Series utilizes a 316L body. The primary difference is the Triton 10 Series has a bias piston… subsea close assist…to prevent hydrostatic head from overcoming bottle pressure … which could cause the valve to open.
The 6 & 3 Series does not have a bias piston however both utilize SAE cap that would prevent seawater from entering the valve chamber and opening the valve. Yes, a cap on a Mil spec valve is supposed to keep seawater from entering the valve also. The cap on a Triton 6 & 3 Series is a 2nd barrier. We recommend the Triton 10 Series for subsea applications but the Triton 6 & 3 Series is capable of subsea applications but not recommended for underbalanced conditions.
Are Triton valves field repairable?
Yes, all Triton gas valves are field repairable.
How difficult is field repair of Triton valves?
Very easy. Field repair of the Triton valves is accomplished with simple hand tools. All Triton gas valve can be rebuilt in a few minutes.
Are Triton valves retrofittable with current Schrader valves?
Yes, Triton valves are fully retrofittable and work in all bottles.
Are special charging kits required for Triton valves?
Triton valves require a dedicated Triton Charging Tool for charging. The Charging Tool will connect up to whatever charging kit is currently being used in a rig or in a shop. Poseidon does not sell charging kits as they are readily available from a number of bottle manufacturers.
Is there any risk of unscrewing a valve under pressure while charging or operating the valve?
No. The Charging Tools contains no torque pins and has no ability to transfer unscrewing torque to any Triton valve. In fact, during charging operations, the Charging tools can and should rotate freely for hose positioning.
Have there been any reported accidents with Triton gas valve technology?
No. There have been no reports of injuries or close calls by anyone utilzing Triton gas valve technology. HSE features are intrinsic and cannot be worked around or circumented. You safety is important to us.
Why is a Charging tool required for charging of Triton gas valves?
The short answer is there is no gas connection on any Triton valve. The gas connection is only on the Charging Tools. The purpose of the Charging Tool is to allow safe operation of the valve during charging operations and to direct incoming gas flow into the Triton valves.
Is the tooling for Triton valves the same?
No, the 10 Series tooling is different that tooling used by the Triton 6 & 3 Series. This is due to the difference in gas path. Triton 10 Series is side to bottle, Triton 6 & 3 Series is top to bottle. See gas valve pages for clarity.
What is the material construction used in the Triton 10 Series?
Body is Nitronic 50 and Stem Seal is 316L
What is the material construction of the Triton 6 Series?
Body is Nitronic 50 and the Stem Seal is 316L
What is the material construction of the Triton 3 Series?
Body is 316L and Stem Seal is 316L
What is the safety factor for Triton Valves?
Triton 10 Series tested burst pressure is 19,000 psi. At pressures above 19,000 psi the soft seal bottle interface will give. The valve body has been burst tested to 32,000 psi.
Triton 6 Series tested burst pressure is 3.1X safety factor (19,000 psi)
Triton 3 Series tested burst pressure is 6X safety factor (18,000 psi)
What materials are used in the Triton tooling?
The Bodies are 316L, the jacking bolts for operation are 316L in torque tool.
Are special tools required to interact with the Triton Torque Tool and Charging Tool?
No. A simple wrench or crescent wrench is all that is needed.
Are repair kits offered for Triton valves?
Yes, repair kits are standard product offerings
What type of maintenance is required for Triton valves under the 3 year warranty period?
The outer bodies of the valves should be wiped and lightly greases from time to time. For the Triton 10 Series we recommend wiping down the sealing surface with a dry rag or cloth and applying a light coat of grease to the outer sealing surface.
Can Triton Gas valves be plumbed together in a bank?
Our Triton RCV (Remote Charging Valve) is designed for these types of applications. Contact Poseidon for further information.
What is the gas flow rate of a Triton gas valve?
Our Triton 10 Series flows at a standard 240 litres per minute. For perspective this is approximately 3.1X higher than a Schrader or Mil spec valve. If you are charging with volume behind it... the difference is substantial.
If the Triton 10 Series Valve is self-closing then what prevents hydrostatic head from forcing the valve open?
Excellent Question. The Triton 10 Series gas entry is a small port on the side of the valve bore. Gas enters the valve annulus between the Stem seal and the bias piston. The bias piston has a larger surface area than the stem seal so any pressure in the valve is exerting 1.44X more closing force than opening force. After charging operations an SAE-05 cap with oring is torqued into the top of the valve body trapping ambient pressure above the Bias piston. As the valve goes subsea and hydrostatic pressure can now enter through the side port. As pressure builds the bias piston is being pushed upward trying to close the valve. The deeper the valve goes the harder it tries to close. This close assist prevents seawater from opening a valve regardless of what pressure is in the bottle. In fact, an open valve with the SAE-05 cap installed can be dropped into sea and at around 200 feet will begin closing on its own due to the bias piston. At 500 feet the valve will be completely closed and sealed.
What happens if a Triton gas valve started leaking?
The Triton gas charging valves have an emergency override feature that can throttle or seal a leaking 10, 6, or 3 series valve. If the rig is dealing with bigger issues the valve can be run subsea with the emergency override tool in place sealing the valve.
Have Triton gas valves been tested with Helium?
Yes, the Triton 10 Series has been tested with Helium with excellent results. Information is available if you contact us.
What bottle connections are available for the Triton 10 Series Valve?
UNF ½-20 threads (face seal)
What bottle connections are available for the Triton 6 Series Valve?
UNF ½-20 threads (face seal)
What bottle connections are available for the Triton 3 Series?
3/8-24 UNF, SAE-03
Will the UNF ½-20 Face seal connection work on a bottle with an SAE-05 connection?
Yes, the UNF ½-20 face seal connection will work on any bottle connection (face seal or SAE-05)
If I provide the threads for a bottle connection can you determine the correct type of valve interface?
Yes. Contact PDS.
If I cannot determine bottle connections can I just use all face seal (UNF ½-20) connections?
Yes. The face seal connection is universal and will work with all bottle interfaces.
How do you dump pressure from a Triton valve?
Pressure can be dumped through the Charging Head or using the Torque Tool
Is the soft seal used in Triton gas valves replaceable?
Yes. Seal Kits are available for all Triton gas valves.
Is there any risk of accidently removing a gas charging valve under pressure?
No. Both torque tools have an HSE audible warning that lets the technician know they are attempting to install a torque tool on a valve that contains pressure. This HSE feature is unique to the Triton charging system.
Is hearing protection recommended when charging or discharging gas pressure from a Triton valve?
Yes during all pressure dumping. Using the torque tool to pressure dump at 3,000 psi the dB level is 97 through the audible warning ports.
Is eye protection recommended when charging or dumping gas pressure from a Triton valve?
Yes, absolutely required at all times.
What is the temperature range for gas charging valves?
Tropical 20F to 220F
If I have a warranty claim do I just send the valve back to Poseidon Deepwater Solutions?
No, contact Poseidon prior to sending valve to receive a return authorization number.
Are Triton gas valve products traceable?
Yes, all Triton gas valve products are serialized and fully traceable.
Are Triton gas valves tested prior to shipping?
Yes, all Triton gas valves undergo FAT prior to shipment. This includes a low pressure sealing test and a max pressure hold that is charted.
Why isn’t my company using Triton Gas Charging Valves?
We ask ourselves that same question every day! Let’s fix that!!