Product category:
Machine Safety Monitoring and Control
News Release from: Netherlocks Safety Systems | Subject: FAITH
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 12 October 2005
Valve test system keeps faith with
safety
A novel system tests emergency shutdown and high-integrity pressure-protection system valves during normal operation of a plant.
Dutch process-interlocking and valve-control specialist Netherlocks has developed a novel method of testing emergency shutdown (ESD) and high-integrity pressure-protection system (HIPPS) valves during normal operation of a plant, avoiding the loss in productivity caused by conventional testing methods The Fail Action Integrity Test Handling (FAITH) system limits the stroke of the valve-actuator combination to just 20 degrees, enough to guarantee the reliability of the valve without impacting on production
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 14 Feb 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Safety system justifies faith in valve operation
A new safety system allows users to perform functionality and operability tests on actuator operated valves without production loss.
Emergency shutdown unit upgraded
Netherlocks' Faith partial-stroke emergency shutdown (ESD) and HIPPS valve testing unit is now available with an incorporated emergency override lever.
Valves used in ESD and HIPPS failsafe procedures which have not been operated for a long period of time risk becoming immovable due to the actuator and valve seals becoming stuck together.
Should an emergency shutdown become necessary and one of the valves will not close, an extremely dangerous situation could arise.
The conventional manner of testing these valves involves closing them completely, which leads to costly downtime, and this is only carried out during a complete plant shutdown.
As complete shutdowns are very rare events, plants tend to install an expensive, oversized actuator to "crack" the sticking valve.
The FAITH system removes the need for such an actuator while enabling tests to be performed more frequently and conveniently.
It replaces the standard bracket and coupling between the actuator and valve, and will only allow the valve to be partially operated once the correct linear key has been inserted.
The FAITH device works on a completely mechanical principle, obviating the need for wiring, software or a PLC.
Maintenance-free and fail-safe, it can be used with both linear and rotary actuators.
Netherlocks' complete product range can be found in a newly released brochure.
This document features the company's four main product groups: process interlocking, valve control, lock out/tag out and machine guarding.
• Netherlocks Safety Systems: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
