ThermaValve-HT
The ThermaValve-HT is a specialised high-temperature isolation valve developed from the world-renowned Clyde Dome Valve, engineered to operate reliably in the most demanding industrial environments.
View Process VideosHigh Temperature Isolation Valve for Extreme Process Conditions
The ThermaValve-HT is a specialised high-temperature isolation valve developed from the world-renowned Clyde Dome Valve, engineered to operate reliably in the most demanding industrial environments.
Designed for applications involving hot bulk solids, elevated pressures and harsh process conditions, the ThermaValve-HT provides dependable isolation where conventional valves cannot operate reliably.
The valve is widely used in metallurgical, gasification and high-temperature process industries, where materials such as briquettes, iron pellets or other coarse solids must be introduced safely into pressurised reactors or gasifiers.
With the global transition toward low-carbon, green steel production technologies, reliable handling of hot solids in advanced reactor systems and hydrogen-based ironmaking processes is becoming increasingly important. The ThermaValve-HT is ideally suited to these applications, providing robust, gas-tight isolation in extreme-temperature environments.
Operating with a water-cooled ball valve design and an inflatable sealing system, the ThermaValve-HT ensures gas-tight isolation, high reliability, and low maintenance, even under the most severe operating conditions.
Key Features:
- High temperature capability up to 750°C
- Pressure rating up to 10 bar
- Water-cooled ball and dome design
- Gas-tight isolation using inflatable seal technology
- Suitable for large particles and briquetted materials
- Pneumatic or hydraulic actuation options
- Fail-safe pressure-tight sealing
- Designed for high reliability and long service life
The valve incorporates water-cooled internal components, including the top plate, shaft and ball, ensuring reliable operation even in high-temperature reactor systems.
Typical Applications
The ThermaValve-HT is typically installed in systems where hot bulk solids must be safely isolated before entering pressurised reactors or high-temperature process equipment.
Typical applications include:
- Gasifier feed systems
- Reactor vessel inlet isolation
- Lock hopper charging systems
- Metallurgical furnace feed systems
- High-temperature solids handling systems
Typical Materials Handled:
- Pig iron pellets: Ironmaking processes
- Coal briquettes: Gasifier charging
- Direct Reduced Iron (DRI): Steelmaking
- Hot Compacted Iron (HCI): Reactor charging
- Limestone: Flux addition
- Dolomite: Metallurgical additives
Dolomite Metallurgical additives
These materials are typically handled at very high temperatures and pressures, requiring reliable isolation before entering the process reactor.
Technical Capabilities:
- Operating Temperature: 450°C – 750°C
- Pressure Rating: Up to 10 barg
- Valve Sizes: 150 mm – 650 mm
- Actuation: Pneumatic or Hydraulic
- Cooling System: Water-cooled ball and top plate
- Seal System: Pressure-assisted inflatable seal
The ThermaValve-HT operates similarly to the Clyde Dome Valve but features a fully enclosed ball seat, enabling effective cooling and reliable sealing at elevated temperatures.
Designed for High-Temperature Reactor Systems
In many metallurgical and gasification processes, materials must be introduced into reactors operating at high pressure and extreme temperature conditions.
The ThermaValve-HT is typically installed as part of a lock hopper charging system, often working alongside a Clam Valve, which temporarily holds the material above the ball valve before controlled discharge.
This configuration ensures:
- Controlled material feeding
- Gas-tight isolation from the reactor
- Safe lock hopper operation
- Reliable long-term performance in extreme process environments
Such systems are widely used in advanced ironmaking and gasification technologies, where materials such as coal briquettes, hot-pressed iron, DRI, and flux additives are introduced into melter-gasifiers or reduction reactors.
The ThermaValve-HT is therefore well suited to next-generation green steel production technologies, including hydrogen-based ironmaking processes, where reliable high-temperature isolation is essential for safe reactor operation.
ThermaValve-HT vs Conventional High Temperature Valves
EnquireHandling hot bulk solids in pressurised reactor systems presents significant challenges for conventional valve technologies. Traditional isolation valves often suffer from severe wear, leakage or reliability issues when exposed to extreme temperatures and coarse materials. The ThermaValve-HT is specifically engineered to overcome these limitations.
While some conventional valves can tolerate elevated temperatures, they typically struggle to provide reliable gas-tight isolation and long service life when handling hot, coarse materials in pressurised reactor systems.
| Feature | ThermaValve-HT | Slide Gate Valve | Double Flap Valve | Rotary Valve |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum operating temperature | Up to 750°C | Up to ~530°C | Typically up to ~450°C | Up to ~400°C |
| Pressure isolation | Gas-tight sealing | Limited sealing | Moderate | Poor |
| Large particle handling | Excellent | Risk of jamming | Moderate | Poor |
| Reliability in harsh environments | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Wear resistance | High | Slide plate wear | Moderate | Rotor & housing wear |
| Maintenance requirements | Low | Frequent adjustment | Moderate | High |
| Suitability for reactor lock hoppers | Ideal | Not recommended | Sometimes used | Not suitable |
Part of the Clyde Valve Portfolio
The ThermaValve-HT forms part of Clyde Pneumatic Conveying's range of specialised high-performance isolation valves, including:
- Dome Valve: The industry benchmark for pneumatic conveying systems
- S-Line Dome Valve: High integrity isolation for chemical and petrochemical processes
- Dust Catcher Dome Valve: Designed specifically for ironmaking dust catcher applications
Together, these technologies ensure safe, reliable and efficient materials handling across the most demanding industrial processes worldwide.
Industries Served:
- Iron & Steel: Reactor and furnace charging systems
- Non-Ferrous Metallurgy: Smelter feed systems
- Gasification: Biomass or coal feed to gasifiers
- Energy: High-temperature reactor processes
- Chemical & Petrochemical: High temperature process solids
