Customised valve actuation – when standard products are not the answer (June 2014)

02 June, 2014

The overriding majority of valve actuation applications in today’s industries are fulfilled with standard products. In some cases an actuator may need to be modified to suit specific operating requirements, but here again a solution based on a standard product can usually be found. There are occasions, however, when the physical and operational demands of an application rule out anything other than an entirely customised approach to the problem. The long-standing experience of Rotork-Hiller in the fluid power and motion control industries has been mostly built on the provision of actuators for critical and vital applications calling for the design and manufacture of solutions to suit customers’ individual requirements. Unlike other manufacturers therefore, customised valve actuation is the cornerstone of the company’s activity. Among many examples, an actuator recently built in compliance with customer specifications serves as a practical illustration of this activity. The specification called for a self-contained electro-hydraulic modulating actuator to operate a three-way globe bypass valve within a reactor water chemical clean-up system. This was a non-safety related application, but the specification also dictated a strict weight limitation and a maximum overall dimension envelope. Rotork-Hiller engineers put together a package incorporating all the requirements, including a number of components manufactured uniquely for the application. Meetings with the customer and design reviews enabled modifications to be made during the production process until the compact final package was completed. One of the engineers closely involved with the project takes up the story: “Everything was achieved in a timely fashion during which we designed and built a prototype for proof of concept and life testing in only six weeks, prior to design modifications and final design approval. The design demanded a lot of project specific direction to produce a modular electro-hydraulic actuator with a wide range of linear travel and thrust outputs. The lightweight and compact design delivers a highly accurate and responsive modulating performance and incorporates an intelligent positioner with HART communication protocol. “The complete package was successfully tested to industry standards for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) at an independent laboratory. The project illustrates how Rotork-Hiller is willing to go the distance and provide customer service at a level that is exemplary.” www.rotork.com

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Amarinth wins its first order from Ineos for flare knock-out pumps

30 April, 2014

Amarinth – the company specialising in the design, application and manufacture of centrifugal pumps and associated equipment to the Oil & Gas, petrochemical, chemical and industrial markets – has won an order from Ineos to supply two API 610 OH2 pumps with Plan 53B seal support systems for the flare knock-out system at the Ineos onshore refinery at Grangemouth, Scotland. The mercaptan oxidation (Merox) process at the Ineos Grangemouth plant required two API 610 OH2 pumps to remove the condensate that collects in the flare knock-out drums during the refining process. The pumps would only be operated infrequently, sometimes being dormant for weeks, but would then have to start reliably on-demand when the trigger level in the knock-out drums was reached. The Grangemouth refinery is situated next to the sea and so the pumps would be exposed to the often hostile Scottish elements. Ineos also had stringent site specifications that had to be met as well as needing the pumps on a tight 33 week delivery. Amarinth designed the pumps to withstand temperatures of -20C for the coldest of Scottish winters. The pumps were also painted to offshore specifications to survive the harsh coastal saline environment. Due to the low usage of the pumps, special oilers were incorporated so that any water in the bearing oil could be easily identified and removed. To ensure reliable on-demand operation, Amarinth worked with Ineos to develop a specific maintenance schedule for the pumps to minimise the risk of damage caused during the periods of inactivity, particularly around preventing the seal faces sticking. Given the demanding requirements, Ineos also wanted to ensure that Amarinth could provide support on-site for the pumps and so Amarinth sent its trained site engineers to Grangemouth to carry out the installation and commissioning of the pumps. Oliver Brigginshaw, managing director of Amarinth, commented: “We are delighted with this first order from Ineos, which allowed us to apply our extensive offshore experience to this order despite it being an on-shore application. We are noticing more customers requesting on-site commissioning when they place their orders and this provides us with useful feedback from site when we send our trained engineers to carry out this work which we can then incorporate into future designs and enhancements. It is also encouraging to see that the levels of opportunity within the UK offshore and on-shore markets continue to remain buoyant.” www.amarinth.com

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Eaton hose for where performance is critical in extreme cold environments

30 April, 2014

Power management company Eaton has introduced the ICE Champion EC810 hose for extreme low temperature applications. This spiral wire reinforced hydraulic hose withstands temperatures as low as -57degC (-70degF) and pressures as high as 420 bar (6100 psi) making it particularly well-suited for use in high pressure hydraulic circuits operating in polar climates. Eaton’s ICE Champion EC810 hose has a Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) approved rugged abrasion-resistant cover, a feature that further enhances its suitability for extreme-duty applications on construction and forestry equipment, oil and gas rigs, mining equipment, and other high pressure applications in frigid environments. EC810 working temperatures range from -57degC to +100degC (-70degF to +212degF) to ensure a long operating life in demanding applications. Available in sizes -6 to -16 (4-wire) and -20 to -32 (6-wire), the EC810 hose has a maximum working pressure of 420 bar (6100 psi) in sizes -6 to -24 and 350 bar (5,100 psi) for the -32 size. The ICE Champion EC810 hose is also approved for use with Eaton’s ‘1W’ series internal skive fitting* and a one-piece non-skive fitting for sizes -12 to -32. *Skive fitting: Removal of the hose cover to expose the uppermost layer of reinforcement prior to crimping. www.eaton.com/hydraulics www.eaton.com

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The British Fluid Power Association launches new Hose Integrity, Inspection and Management Training Programme

29 April, 2014

The British Fluid Power Association (BFPA), incorporating the British Fluid Power Distributors’ Association (BFPDA),has introduced a new practical, workshop-based course

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