Intelligent electric valve actuators for Thailand

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Dec 13, 2001

PTT has embarked on a programme of automation at all of Thailand's petroleum depots in order to improve safety and reduce operating costs, using Rotork IQ range intelligent electric valve actuators

PTT - the petroleum authority of Thailand - has embarked on a programme of automation at all of the country's petroleum depots in order to improve safety and reduce operating costs, using Rotork IQ range intelligent electric valve actuators.

Two major depots in the south of the country at Suratthani and Pakpanang were chosen as pilot schemes for the project.

Work here involved retrofitting electric actuators on installed manually operated valves and providing Modbus connectivity with existing Allen Bradley PLC supervisory systems.

Rotork's subsidiary company in Thailand was awarded the order by contractor Carlton International (Thailand) Ltd to install and commission twenty-eight IQ actuators at Suratthani and fourteen at Pakpanang.

All the actuators were equipped with factory- fitted Rotork Modbus cards to provide the digital communication with host PLCs that was specified in the contract.

Commissioning at both sites was completed on target during 2001.

Mr Lertsak Pornnoparat, PTT's project manager, has expressed satisfaction on a job well done.

He was particularly impressed by the labour saving opportunities and safety assurances provided by the Rotork IQ non-intrusive actuator design when used for retrofitting in hazardous areas.

All commissioning settings and adjustments are made using a hand-held infra-red setting tool, without removing any actuator covers.

Commissioning can therefore be performed in any weather, day or night, even without mains power connected to the actuator.

Mr Pornnoparat explained: "This was the first time that we had retrofitted actuators in a hazardous area like this and there were concerns about safety in the field as well as interfacing new control circuits with existing PLCs.

"However, all the work has been completed successfully and without disruption, giving us the confidence to proceed with the project at further depots.".