Valve replaces mainstay of the offshore industry

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Aug 26, 2005

A compact new solenoid valve marries the reliability and integrity of one of the industry's best known products with the low weight, low price and low running cost demands of today's global market.

Thompson Valves - part of the rebranded Truflo International group of flow control manufacturers - has launched a compact new solenoid valve for the offshore and petrochemical industries that marries the reliability and integrity of one of the industry's best known products with the low weight, low purchasing and low running cost demands of today's global marketplace.

The new Maxseal IC03 solenoid valve product is the successor to the IC04 series, which has been a mainstay of the offshore industry for 25 years.

The IC03 product has a hard act to follow after the IC04 series, which is still widely popular all over the world, with extensive use in the Middle East and the Far East as well as 90% coverage in Europe.

Extensive customer research confirmed many customers were happy with lower flow rates than those offered by the high performance IC04 product, so this allowed product developers at Thompson Valves to reduce the size and weight of the new IC03 design, reducing weight by a phenomenal 60%.

On an order of circa 500 valves for an offshore facility, such savings would have worthwhile advantages in terms of simplifying structural design and reducing operating costs.

Indeed Thompson Valves believes offshore facilities using gas turbines to generate power would see very significant savings through using IC03.

Modern production techniques and materials have also helped the company make significant cost reductions during the production process, and these savings will be passed onto customers, making the IC03 instantly the most cost effective product in its class available in the marketplace.

A secondary benefit of the new production processes also means the company can offer dramatically reduced lead times, way ahead of what has been achievable in the past.

Bulk delivery is possible in just two to three weeks now with IC03.

Production of the highly regarded IC04 product will continue, to serve a market which has relied on it for 25 years.

"When we asked the customers what they wanted from this genre of product, many said they wanted to stick with IC04, so we are happy to continue to provide that", explained Darren Sheppard, Thompson Valves Sales Director.

"The new product represents the most modern and efficient solenoid valve for this type of application and is perfect for new offshore and oil and gas projects, as well as refits".

The valve is a compact 2kg version of the market leading IC04S, and features a stainless steel enclosure - vital for longevity in harsh environments and ultra-long-lasting compared with aluminium - and valve construction to IP66/X8.

The dual-certified direct lift solenoid valve is magnetically fine-tuned to operate a one quarter valve at 2.9W.

It retains the traditional Maxseal operating forces and safety margins required for long term reliable operation under the most arduous conditions and is typically suited to applications such as emergency shutdown systems.

Early interest in the new product has been extensive and Thompson Valves expects to announce major orders soon.