PRODUCTION/PROCESSING/HANDLING 43
Actuation design evolves for potentially explosive areas
Michael Herbstritt looks at the evolving design of actuators and describes how its modular actuation technology has been adopted by a leading manifold manufacturer.
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oday’s ergonomically styled actuators are designed to combine ease-of-use with efficient valve control. With the introduction of modular solutions, the application of actuation technology in the oil and gas industries has been extended as components dove-tail together and complete system adaptability has been achieved.
Based on the modular concept, AUMA’s actuation technology has continued to evolve to respond to the oil and gas industries’ requirements with specialist products, such as explosion proof solutions. Specifically designed for use in hazardous areas, these actuators offer a compact solution that is also robust and reliable for potentially explosive atmospheres.
The option of flameproof enclosure protection
ensures that burning particles or flames cannot reach the outside elements.
Specialist solutions
An example of a scheme where explosion proof technology has played a key role is at the tank farm at the Bío Bío refinery in South America. The Bío Bío is
Fig. 2. AUMA actuators automate a tank farm in Chile with more than 200 tanks.
a river and a region in Chile that is fully dependent on super tankers that deliver crude oil and gas which is stored at the coast. In a contract awarded by Empresa Nacional del
Petroleo, one of South America’s largest energy suppliers, AUMA installed an actuation solution to automate 220 tank farm valves that had previously been manually operated. Explosion protection for the actuators was required and this need was fulfilled by AUMA products backed by the required certification. The company also took responsibility for adapting mechanical valves plus sizing, supplying, mounting and commissioning actuators.
ENSCO 8500 series deepwater semi-submersibles are based on an ENSCO proprietary design and include a two million pound quad derrick, offline pipe handling capability and 150-man living quarters. These 8500 series rigs are capable of drilling in up to 8500 feet of water.
H
Fig. 1. AUMA explosion proof technology supports Bío Bío tank farm.
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The exacting requirements for the rig built by Keppel FEL Singapore were met and AUMA has supplied 32 of its part-turn SG 05.1 actuators. Each of the rig’s four main supporting pillars has eight thruster units/hydraulic skid units and for each, an AUMA SG 05.1 actuator hydraulically controls the rig position.
Main features of the AUMA product supplied are robust design; self-locking functionality with high
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igh corrosion protection products have also been developed by AUMA and these have been supplied to the ENSCO 8500 semi-submersible offshore rig. The
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