GENERAL VALVE COMPANY

The Evolution
of Double
Block & Bleed
Continues . . .
Twin Seal
General Valve Company began as a valve
reconditioning shop in 1929. Today, we
are the world’s leading manufacturer of
high-integrity, positive shutoff Double The age-old “Double Block & Bleed”
Block & Bleed valves which serve the system (as shown above) required the
following markets: pipeline, liquid bulk use of two valves and a spool piece.
terminals, aviation fueling, refining, oil/ A bleed valve was used to drain the spool
gas production, and custody transfer for and verify seal integrity.
the petroleum and oil and gas industries.

Tank Farm

Marine Loading
Introduced in 1941, General Twin Seal™
valves, were the first to meet the rigid
requirements of Double Block & Bleed
service - more than 60 years ago. In the
years since, subtle yet significant design
refinements have been made to improve
the valve’s performance. Superior design
innovations, pride in manufacturing
workmanship, and the selection of the
best materials, support General Valve’s
commitment to excellence and complete
customer satisfaction.
The Twin Seal replaces this antiquated
two-valve system with just one double-
seated bubble-tight valve. The upstream
and downstream seal provide the same
function as the two block valves. The body
(serving as a spool piece) bleed verifies
seal integrity.
Scored seating segments
Seal abrasion is inherent in the design of
most ball and gate valves. In most
instances, the seats are ground or wedged
against metal every time the valve cycles.
Any foreign material lodged between the
seats and ball or gate will score the seating
surfaces. Once the seating segment is
scored, product loss and contamination
results. The Twin Seal avoids abrasion
by having both independant slips totally
retracted from the body bore during
cycling.

Twin Seal’s totally retracted slip

design eliminates wear, minimizes leakage risk,
reduces maintenance, and saves money.
GENERAL
VALVE
COMPANY
 General Valve
GTS 8000TM

Indicator Shaft & Flag

Provides positive indication

Worm Gear Set Internal Thrust Bearings

Self- locking non-back driving Internal thrust bearings for smooth
worm gear set operation and long cycle life

Packing Gland
Made from NACE compliant
17-4 PH SS material
Fyre PackTM
Live-loaded packing assures fire
safe integrity

Fyre BoxTM
Tapered design assures
fire safe integrity
Upper Stem
Made from pressure vessel
approved 17-4 PH SS material

Bleed Access
All bleed holes located in body
simplifies field maintenance

Seal Material Test Coupon

Fyre RingTM
Design assures slip seal
Metal-to-metal design
material and bond integrity
assures fire safe integrity

Self-Purging Lower Plate Drain Cavity

Flushes lower plate cavity with Jack-Screw Holes
each valve cycle Simplifies field
maintenance

Still the Best Valve, Best Value

 Typical Worm Gear Operated Valve

D
Dimensional Table

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Flo
Size Model Oper. A B C D F G H J Weight
4 8104 501G 273/4 161/2 61/4 10 9 9 51/2 13/4 165
*
(4) 5/8-11UNC 543
6 8106 501G 311/2 181/4 8 10 101/2 11 9 13/4 255 (4) 3/4-10UNC 1432
ANSI 150

8 8108 625G 393/4 23 93/4 14 111/2 131/2 121/2 3 405 (4) 3/4-10UNC 2420
10 8110 625G 42 24 11 14 13 16 15 3 518 (4) 7/8- 9UNC 3578
12 8112 751G 53 301/2 13 20 14 19 17 31/2 790 (4) 7/8- 9UNC 4000
16 8116 1261G 64 38 161/4 20 16 231/2 22 5 1340 (8) 1.00-8UNC 6600
24 8124 1261G 723/4 411/2 211/2 20 36 1A 32 28 5 3830 (4) 1.25-8UNC 24000

4 8204 501G 28 161/2 61/4 10 12 10 51/4 13/4 174 -- 574

300

6 8206 625G 36 211/4 73/4 14 157/8 121/2 9 3 312 -- 1769

4
2 8402 501G 251/4 151/2 41/4 10 111/2 61/2 51/4 13/4 131 -- 197
600

3 8403 501G 263/4 161/4 51/4 10 14 81/4 51/4 13/4 165 -- 401
4 8404 625G 373/4 191/2 61/2 14 17 103/4 6 3 287 -- 585

2 8602 625G 313/4 19 53/4 14 141/2 81/2 4 3 250 --

900

3 8503 625G 313/4 19 53/4 14 15 91/2 4 3 271 --

2 8602 625G 313/4 19 53/4 14 141/2 81/2 4 3 250

1500

--

Notes: (1) Face-to-face per API 6D *Size of tapped holes per each flange
(1A) 24" Face-to-face not per API 6D
(2) All throat taps and body taps are 1/2" NPT
(3) 2-4" have 1/2" NPT, 6-8" have 3/4" NPT, 10" and above have 1" NPT

GENERAL
VALVE
COMPANY

How the
Twin SealTM works
The internal design is very simple.
Seals (A) are permanently bonded
into the slips (B) which are
mounted on a central plug. In the
1 open position the slip seals are
completely out of the flow.
B A
Turning the operator handwheel
clockwise rotates the plug assembly
90 o to block flow. During rotation,
clearance is maintained between the
seal and the valve body, allowing
2 free movement and avoiding
abrasion.
When the operator is turned further
clockwise, the tapered plug begins to
lower, forcing the slips against the
body initiating the verifiable seal.
3 Because the seals never drag, the
valve requires less torque to cycle.
In the closed position, the slip seals
are expanded, compressing the slip
seals until metal-to-metal seating is
effected. Because it is mechanical,
the Twin Seal doesn’t rely on line
4 pressure differential to help make its
seal. It even seals in vacuum service.
TM
GTS
Full Open Position
Guide pin is shown at
its full open position
with the upper and
lower stems turned 90o
so that the roller is dis-
placed from the roller
tracks.
Neutral Position
Guide pin is shown in
the corner of the L-slot.
The roller is moving in-
wardly out of the roller
track and into the upper
stem recess thereby
locking the stems
rotationally together.
Meanwhile, the upper
and lower stems are
fully engaged.
Seated Position
Guide pin is shown at
its highest point in the
L-slot. The roller resides
in the lower stem and is
at its lowest point of travel within the roller
track. The upper and lower stems are fully ex-
tended.
Simple, in-line field
maintenance keeps
costs down
A big advantage of Twin Seal’s design is
that it permits “in-line” servicing. By
simply removing the valve bonnet or lower
plate (after the line is depressurized and
drained), all models may be repaired from
top or bottom without removing the valve
from the line.
 Actuation
• All models can be adapted to accept electric or pneumatic actuators.

• Actuators can be set to operate valves at various speeds. Do not exceed

144 RPM without consulting factory.

• Low torque requirements.

• Twin Seal models incorporate a non-backdriving worm gear set.

Pressure Relief Systems

Bleeds Systems

To satisfy the requirements of API 6D, a pressure relief device must be provided on all double block and bleed valves in liquid service. When
the General Twin Seal valve is seated and completely filled with liquid, any slight variation in temperature due to the sun’s rays or ambient
thermal fluctuations will cause drastic changes in body cavity pressure resulting from thermal expansion.
Valves filled with fuel oil in a laboratory setting have exhibited a 75 PSI increase in pressure with a temperature rise of only 10F. While
results may vary under actual service conditions (depending on media, pressure vessel rigidity, and presence of entrained gas), it is known
that dangerously high pressures will build up in liquid filled, positive shutoff valves. The General Twin Seal in liquid service must always be
installed with a pressure relief device.

Manual Bleed (MBBV) Safety Block/DTR Safety Bleed/DTR

A Manual Body Bleed Valve is included on
this General Twin Seal. This bleed valve
installed in the body cavity is only opened
after the Twin Seal is closed. Seal effective-
ness can be immediately evaluated. This
bleed valve must be closed before the Twin
Seal is reopened.
GENERAL
VALVE
COMPANY
The Safety Block/DTR functions exactly as
the basic Safety Bleed. However, all working
components are housed in a virtually
indestructible compact carbon steel mani-
fold. The benefits of this incident control
equipment are: fire safety, complete compo-
nent access for maintenance purposes, all
socket welded joints, heavy wall pipe and
total incident control.
The differential thermal relief system is ar-
ranged as shown. The integral relief valve,
mounted in the upper relief/vent manifold,
routes excess pressure to the upstream throat
of the valve. The standard relief valve is set
to open at 25 PSI above upstream pressure.
This system functions only when the valve is
closed. A manual body bleed, also integrally
mounted in the upper relief/vent manifold,
is opened only to vent and verify seal
integrity. An isolation valve installed in the
upstream throat tap is also included in this
system. It must be left open to permit the
relief system to relieve pressure upstream.
 TM

GTS
Standard Materials of Construction
Body Cast Carbon Steel ASTM A216-WCC, Body Bore Chrome Plated
Bonnet/Lower Plate Carbon Steel ASTM A36 Plate
Plug Cast Ductile Iron ASTM A395 Grade 60-40-18, Manganese Phosphate
Base Coating, P92 Intermediate Coat with Fluoropolymer Top Coat
Stem ASTM 17-4 PH SS, NACE Compliant
Slips Cast Ductile Iron ASTM A536 65-45-12, Manganese Phosphate Coated
Packing Gland ASTM 17-4 PH SS, NACE Compliant
Fyre RingTM Graphite
Fyre PackTM Graphite with ASTM A693 17-7 Live Loaded SS Cap
Fasteners ASTM A193-B7
O-Rings & Slip Seals Viton
Other materials available upon request. Material Test Reports (MTR's) are available on all pressure vessel components.
ISO 9001 License • API 6D Monogrammable • API 6FA Fire Safe Certified • CE Mark/PED Certified

General Valve Company is proud to be the only double block and bleed valve
manufacturer to develop and produce in house its own slip seal materials.
Proper seal selection includes a myriad of considerations such as media, pressure class, valve type, differential pressure, low temperature, high tem-
perature, seal type, etc. To that end we present our selection of slip seal materials and a brief list of considerations:

General Twin Seal Trim Selection

For more info
Fluoro Elastomers Slip Seal Materials ask for GVMPS
V Viton Our standard material since 1958 3037
V9 Viton 90 Duro Standard HI∆P 3042
VFR Fiber reinforced Viton Optional HI∆P 3033
VGF Viton GF Viton w/enhanced chem. resistance 3043
VGLT Viton GFLT Low temp Viton GF 3044
VGL9 Viton 90 Duro GFLT HI∆P low temp Viton GF 3059

Nitrile Elastomers Slip Seal Materials

H Nitrile Our original standard material 3048
H9 Nitrile 90 Duro HI∆P nitrile 3049
LH Low temp nitrile Low temp nitrile 3050
H5 Modified nitrile Reformulate Gasoline seal material 3053

Specialty Slip Seal Materials

C Epichlorohydrin Good low temp material 3054
E Ethylenepropylene Ammonia but not hydrocarbon 3057
UHS Flurosilicone Good high and low temp 3032
RZL Rezilon HI∆P RFG 3034
AFL AFLAS Amines, exp. decomp., steam, 600° F 3045
GVX VTR 6279 Ultra chemical resistant 3047
T Teflon Good for just about anything 3041

General Valve Company has a slip exchange program that encourages environmental sensitivity. Pre-owned slips may be returned to the factory for
recycling credits. Consult your General Valve Representative for details.
 6D-0075
Twin Seal
QSR Certificate No. - 027
Scope: Design, Development,
Manufacture and Servicing
of API Spec6D Plug Valves

GENERAL VALVE'S modern Corporate Headquarters

and manufacturing complex cover 250,000 square feet on 53 acres
in Brookshire (Houston), Texas.

Main Office and Manufacturing Plant:

800 Koomey Road, Brookshire, Texas 77423

Tel: (281) 934-6013 • Toll-free: (800) 926-2288

Fax: (281) 934-6058 • Toll-free Fax: (800) 765-2266
http://www.general-valve.com

a PCC Flow Technologies Company

© 2004 GENERAL VALVE Bulletin 1000 All specifications and materials are subject to change without notice.
GENERAL GENERAL TWIN SEAL, GVM, REZILON, VFR, GVX, BEST VALVE BEST VALUE, WHEN LEAKS MATTER, SEAT AND RESEAT,
VALVE HGO, GOSP, SAFETY BLEED, SAFETY BLOCK AND SAFETY CHECK are registered trademarks of General Valve
COMPANY Company. VITON and TEFLON are registered trademarks of DuPont Dow Elastomers, L.L.C. Printed in the USA