Intelligent electric actuators for Vietnam

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 13, 2000

Rotork IQ intelligent electric actuators have been specified for isolating and modulating valve control at a major new power station being built at Pha Lai in Vietnam.

Rotork IQ intelligent electric actuators have been specified for isolating and modulating valve control at a major new power station being built at Pha Lai in Vietnam.

Rotork actuators were specified in the USA by Stone and Webster, the Overall Design Engineering Company and Balance of Plant Engineer for the Pha Lai project, following detailed consultation with Rotork's New England power industry agent Philips Engineered Products.

Stone and Webster insisted on using the latest technology intelligent actuators for the contract, which included a large number of modulating actuators for control valve duties.

This enabled Rotork to promote its ability to offer IQM actuators which are rated for up 1200 starts per hour for this duty - double the performance available from the nearest equivalent competing actuator design.

This feature, together with Rotork's extensive power industry experience and reference list, made an important contribution to Stone and Webster's decision to specify IQ actuators for the project.

Fifty-four IQM actuators have now been supplied to US valvemaker Fisher Controls, customised with plug and socket connectors to meet the on-site power and control system wiring specification at Pha Lai.

In addition, 48 Rotork IQ actuators have been ordered for balance of plant isolating duties by Boston-based Power House Supply and shipped to valvemakers Valve Quip in the USA and Kitz in Japan.

According to Dave Littlejohns, Rotork's sales manager for north-east USA, Stone and Webster are now considering standardising on the Rotork IQ intelligent valve actuator design, together with Rotork Pakscan two-wire digital control systems, for future international power industry and associated projects.

Another important consideration in Rotork's favour is the company's ability to provide local support for its actuators using either subsidiaries or agents in virtually every country in the world.

For example, the actuators at Pha Lai will be looked after by Rotork's established agent in Vietnam, TDNC Company Ltd at Ho Chi Minh city.