Tester cuts plant downtime at a stroke
A
Smith Flow Control product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Apr 16, 2004
The new Stroke-Test from Smith Flow Control is a novel device that allows testing of critical valves without shutting down the process flow.
The new Stroke-Test from Smith Flow Control is a novel device that allows testing of critical valves without shutting down the process flow.
This ensures the revenue stream is not interrupted, while also ensuring plant operators comply with industry safety standards.
The Stroke-Test solves the perennial catch-22 situation: to maximise revenue, operators are under pressure to keep plant running 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for as many months or years as possible without interruption.
To do this safely, it is necessary to periodically test all automated emergency shutdown or other critical valves.
Testing the valves normally requires them to be shut down, stopping the process flow, and therefore stopping the revenue stream.
The Stroke-Test eliminates this problem by allowing plant operators to do both.
The system operates on the principle of "valve partial stroke testing", which allows a safety system to close a valve only partially.
So, when a Stroke-Test is fitted to a valve, it limits the movement of the actuator to within preset travel limits, for example 20 degrees.
This means that all the valve control elements, such as solenoids, positioners and relays are tested, without the valve having to fully close.
As the valve is only partially closed during the test, the flow coefficient is not significantly affected and process flow continues.
If the valve is inoperable due to a mechanical failure, misalignment, or some other control anomaly, it will be detected during the partial stroke test.
The main benefit of the Stroke-Test is its simplicity: because it is a wholly mechanical device, it does not need to be integrated into the control loop, as would be necessary with an electrical system.
Because it is mechanical, the device is also much more economical to install and operate than an electrical or controls-driven system.
Finally, the Stroke-Test is built for the most demanding industrial environments: it is vibration-resistant, corrosion protected and independently certified to IP67 to prevent water ingress.
Stainless-steel trim is used for all keys, shafts and sockets, and it is permanently lubricated, sealed and requires no routine maintenance.
Not what you're looking for? Search the site.
Google Ads
Contact Smith Flow Control
Related Stories
- Parker announces Par<>Fit filter elements
- Tank-cleaning rotary spray ball for CIP tasks
- Spiral hose range enhanced with size -40 model
- Pump Engineering offers aseptic control valve
- Trelleborg launches mechanical face seals
Articles by product category
- Consultancy and Services (903)
- Machine Building (4,517)
-
Engineering Design Software (6,179)
- Engineering Design Software (12)
- 2D CAD software (200)
- 3D CAD software (1,157)
- FEA and structural analysis software (369)
- Fluid, thermal, noise, vibration software (334)
- Simulation, modelling, validation software (914)
- Rendering, visualisation, styling software (196)
- Materials design and moulding design software (151)
- Process, instrumentation, automation software (258)
- Electrical design software (164)
- Publishing and documentation software (229)
- Maths, charting, statistics, QA software (317)
- Data, document management software (310)
- CAM, CNC, production management software (568)
- File conversion software, data capture (351)
- PLM and collaboration software (649)
-
Drives, Motors and Controls (3,361)
- Drives, Motors and Controls (1)
- Precision Motors and Gears (411)
- Industrial Drives/Controls (1,276)
- Linear Drives and Motors (114)
- Industrial Motors (497)
- Stepper and Servo Drives, Motors, Controls (1,060)
- Small Mechanical Components, Joining, Tools (1,975)
-
Control and Instrumentation (5,028)
- Plantwide control (1,324)
- Plant- and Machine-Wide Communications (1,174)
- Smaller-Sized PLCs (387)
- CNC and Motion Controllers (184)
- Mid-range and Large PLCs (201)
- Power Supplies, Uninterruptible Power (562)
- HMIs/Operator Interfaces (294)
- Logic Controllers, Timers and Relays (96)
- Cabling, Conduit, Signal Conditioning (806)
-
Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (5,459)
- Monitoring, Measurement and Quality (1)
- Data acquisition Software and Communications (494)
- Data Acquisition Hardware and PC I/O Boards (472)
- Electrical and Electronic Testing, PAT Equipment (630)
- Form/co-ordinate, optical, vision instruments (703)
- Gauges, Indicators and Instruments (440)
- Data loggers (422)
- Materials testing equipment (421)
- Telecomms/network test equipment, software etc (154)
- Testing and Calibration Services and Information (500)
- Testing, analysing and monitoring equipment (1,222)
-
Electrical and Electronic Equipment Design (4,160)
- Batteries, chargers and circuit protection (555)
- Connectors, Terminals, Busbars, Slip Rings (679)
- Enclosures and Equipment Cooling Fans (709)
- Knobs, Handles and Enclosure Hardware (420)
- PCs and Embedded Systems (798)
- Electrical and Electronic Subassemblies (369)
- Electrical and Electronic Components (630)
-
Materials and Processing (2,963)
- Materials and Processing (5)
- Materials and components (2,215)
- Rapid Prototyping (458)
- Materials processing and testing (285)
-
Engineering Industry News, Resources (6,093)
- Engineering Industry News, Resources (4)
- Engineering Business News, Views (388)
- Engineering Exhibitions, Events (562)
- Engineering Conferences (425)
- Engineering Seminars (400)
- Engineering Industry Developments, Awards (633)
- Engineering Guides, Newsletters (349)
- Engineering Recruitment, Employment (219)
- Engineering Training Courses (433)
- Engineering Education, Resources, Standards (838)
- Engineering Industry Reports, Surveys (597)
- Electronic Resources for Engineers (278)
- Health and Safety Legislation (402)
- Health and Safety Strategy, Risk Assessment (113)
- Health and Safety Consultancy, Software (175)
- Health and Safety Events, Training, News (277)
-
Powertrain Design (3,598)
- Powertrain Design (2)
- Bearings (939)
- Chains and belts (326)
- Gears, brakes, couplings and engines (1,441)
- Hydraulic Components (471)
- Lubricants (418)
-
Capital Equipment (3,387)
- Capital Equipment (1)
- Manufacturing Machinery and Plant Equipment (468)
- Production line blowers and fans (62)
- Compressors and Air Treatment (510)
- Electronics Manufacturing, Tools, Instruments (192)
- Electrical hardware (131)
- Machinery and Production Equipment (1,093)
- Robotics, Handling and Storage (930)
-
Sensors (7,080)
- Sensors (8)
- Accelerometers and Vibration Sensors (427)
- Loadcells, Force Sensors, Torque Sensors (699)
- Pressure sensors (621)
- Flowmeters and Flow Sensors (618)
- Level Sensors and Leak Detectors (527)
- Linear Position Sensors (399)
- Rotary Position, Tilt and Angular Sensors (546)
- Proximity Sensors (700)
- Gas, Chemical, Radiation, Magnetic Sensors (284)
- Humidity and Environmental Sensors (152)
- Temperature sensors (612)
- Vision and Colour Sensors (1,384)
- Barcode Sensors (103)
- Valves, Pumps, Process Hardware (3,623)
