Emerson Actuator Works Faultlessly After 20 Years in Arduous Offshore Duty |
Emerson Electric Co.
8000 W. Florissant Ave., P.O. Box 4100
St. Louis, MO, 63136 8506
USA
Press release date: June 23, 2011
Installed on riser ESD valve, the actuator was the most powerful of its type at time of installation.
MANSFIELD, OHIO - Since 1989, offshore installations in the English sector of the North Sea have been required by law to install Emergency Shutdown (ESD) valves to isolate the installations from oil and gas pipelines. A Bettis(TM) valve actuator - specially designed by Emerson Process Management - installed at that time has just been decommissioned after 20 years of faultless service. Used in extremely arduous duty, the actuator is being decommissioned because the valve has been re-sized due to the reduced flow rates of the field.
Installed in a riser emergency shutdown system, the Bettis TRQ actuator was designed specifically for the application. With a torque rating of 67,800 Nm (600,000 in-lb), the spring return actuator was the most powerful of its type at that time. Its unique quad design required four cylinders and two spring units to overcome the enormous valve stem forces of the 20in Class 900 valve and to meet the stringent client safety factor requirements. Two of the cylinders have 50 cm (20 in) pistons and two have 40 cm (16 in). The actuator weighs over 5.08 tonnes (5.6 tons) and is over six meters (20 feet) in length.
The regulations introduced in 1989 also covered inspection and testing of ESD valves, including the requirement to perform a partial stroke test of the valve at intervals not exceeding 6 months. The installed Bettis TRQ actuator was one of the first with this diagnostic capability. Partial stroke diagnostic tests have been able to prove satisfactory operation over this actuator's lifetime, avoiding the need to remove the actuator from the line for maintenance.
Emerson has developed its actuator technology significantly over the two decades since this actuator was installed. The company has supplied actuators providing over 226,000 Nm (2,000,000 in-lb) of spring end torque, and has the capability to supply a unit providing 565,000 Nm (5,000,000in-lb) torque output.
About Emerson Process Management
Emerson Process Management (www.emersonprocess.com), an Emerson business, is a leader in helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in the chemical, oil and gas, refining, pulp and paper, power, water and wastewater treatment, mining and metals, food and beverage, life sciences and other industries. The company combines superior products and technology with industry-specific engineering, consulting, project management and maintenance services. Its brands include PlantWeb(TM), Syncade(TM), DeltaV(TM), Fisher®, Micro Motion®, Rosemount®, Daniel(TM), Ovation(TM), and AMS Suite.
About Emerson
Emerson, based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is a global leader in bringing technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets through its network power, process management, industrial automation, climate technologies, and tools and storage businesses. Sales in fiscal 2010 were $21 billion. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com
Bettis is a mark owned by Emerson Process Management legal entities. Other marks are property of their respective owners.
Contact:
Barb Naus, Emerson Process Management
1 (419) 528-0145, Barb.Naus@Emerson.com
Emerson Process Management, 12301 Research Blvd, Bldg III, Austin, TX 78759 United States
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