Emerson Exchange 365

Activity

Electro-Hydraulic Valve Actuator Operation

Jim Cahill

Last week, we shared an educational video about how rotary vane actuators work . Another great video was also just recently released, Electro Hydraulic Operator Bettis EHO Schematic Overview (runtime 2:54). Like the rotary vane actuator video, this video provides an overview of the principle of operation for Bettis Electro-Hydraulic Operator (EHO) . These self-contained actuators are designed to actuate quarter-turn…
- 8 Feb 2022
Electro-Hydraulic Valve Actuator Operation

Jim Cahill

Last week, we shared an educational video about how rotary vane actuators work . Another great video was also just recently released, Electro Hydraulic Operator Bettis EHO Schematic Overview (runtime 2:54). Like the rotary vane actuator video, this video provides an overview of the principle of operation for Bettis Electro-Hydraulic Operator (EHO) . These self-contained actuators are designed to actuate quarter-turn…
- 8 Feb 2022
Smart Devices Drive Performance Improvements

Jim Cahill

Whether you collect data manually or continuously monitoring with sensors, you need this data to analyze the performance of your industrial assets. In a Process Instrumentation article, Smart valves and pneumatics improve plant performance from the asset up , Emerson’s Jason Maderic and Gabe Boltniew share how connectivity technologies enable greater continuous monitoring to drive safety, reliability and optimization…
- 2 Feb 2022
Smart Devices Drive Performance Improvements

Jim Cahill

Whether you collect data manually or continuously monitoring with sensors, you need this data to analyze the performance of your industrial assets. In a Process Instrumentation article, Smart valves and pneumatics improve plant performance from the asset up , Emerson’s Jason Maderic and Gabe Boltniew share how connectivity technologies enable greater continuous monitoring to drive safety, reliability and optimization…
- 2 Feb 2022
Rotary Vane Actuator Valve Control

Jim Cahill

Rotary vane actuators are often used for automated pipeline valves and other critical ball and plug valve applications. The hydraulic-powered actuators apply hydraulic force on the rotor’s vanes away from the stationary shoes to produce rotation and perfectly balanced torque output. With no conversion of linear to rotary motion, this actuator technology is highly efficient and ideal for use in high vibration applications…
- 1 Feb 2022
Rotary Vane Actuator Valve Control

Jim Cahill

Rotary vane actuators are often used for automated pipeline valves and other critical ball and plug valve applications. The hydraulic-powered actuators apply hydraulic force on the rotor’s vanes away from the stationary shoes to produce rotation and perfectly balanced torque output. With no conversion of linear to rotary motion, this actuator technology is highly efficient and ideal for use in high vibration applications…
- 1 Feb 2022
Actuator Monitoring and Control for Improved Performance

Jim Cahill

Valves are the workhorses of industrial processes as they control and manage the flow of fluids. Information can be collected from the actuators controlling their movement to help drive improvements in safety, reliability and efficiency. Emerson’s Knut Riegel joined me in this Emerson Automation Experts podcast to discuss motor operated valves and the information that can be extracted to improve performance. Visit…
- 24 Jan 2022
Actuator Monitoring and Control for Improved Performance

Jim Cahill

Valves are the workhorses of industrial processes as they control and manage the flow of fluids. Information can be collected from the actuators controlling their movement to help drive improvements in safety, reliability and efficiency. Emerson’s Knut Riegel joined me in this Emerson Automation Experts podcast to discuss motor operated valves and the information that can be extracted to improve performance. Visit…
- 24 Jan 2022
Valve Diagnostics Drive Improved Performance

Jim Cahill

As a final control element, a control valve directly touches the process and is subject to wear and tear over time. Predictive diagnostics can help detect abnormal conditions developing in time to address them before unplanned shutdowns or slow downs occur. In a Plant Engineering article, Advanced valve diagnostics drive savings , Jordan Mandernach and Emerson’s Brent Baker teamed up to share these diagnostics in digital…
- 30 Dec 2021
Suppressing Fluid Flow Noise

Jim Cahill

Many industrial processes are quite loud from the flow of fluids through the piping, especially where there are changes in the flow rate. In a Hydrocarbon Engineering article, Sound Suppression , Emerson’s Bill Flowers shares ways to reduce high noise conditions caused by control valves and surrounding piping. Bill opens sharing Lighthill’s law , which states: …that aerodynamic noise varies as the eighth power of…
- 29 Dec 2021
Control Valve Selection Criteria Considerations

Jim Cahill

I discovered a great new series of YouTube videos from the Emerson team managing the Fisher Valves & Instruments brand of products. Two of the three recent videos are part of the Control Valves Basics playlist which also has quite a number of other videos to quickly ramp you up the learning curve on basic knowledge of control valves. The three new videos include: What Is a Control Valve? (2:04 runtime) What Are…
- 21 Dec 2021
Transporting Hydrogen in Natural Gas Pipelines

Jim Cahill

With the hydrogen demand growing globally, some challenges are arising across the supply chain to move it from production to consumption. One opportunity is blending a percentage hydrogen into the existing pipeline infrastructure. Rossella Mimmi and Attilio Lepore address the challenges of blending hydrogen into the existing pipelines such as leakage and embrittlement. To learn more about the challenges and opportunities…
- 30 Nov 2021
Reducing Emissions in Your Sustainability Strategy

Jim Cahill

Across all industries, there is an increased urgency and demand to reduce emissions. Every sustainability strategy—from capturing CO 2 and using more clean energy sources and green fuels to improving energy efficiencies—directly or indirectly links to managing emissions. In earlier podcasts we focused on challenges and opportunities operators face with hydrogen production and transportation. Today, we look at emission…
- 23 Nov 2021
Predictive Maintenance for Discrete Valves

Jim Cahill

Intelligence in industrial valves continues to grow. This video by Emerson’s Amit Patel and Jason Maderic shares how the TopWorx predictive valve maintenance solutions help manufacturers and producers drive Digital Transformation initiatives to improve performance around production, energy, emissions, reliability, and safety. Amit opens explaining that users today have the capability to generate large pools of data…
- 15 Nov 2021
Driving to Zero Emissions with ECAT Valve Actuation Technology

Jim Cahill

Sustainability initiatives often include looking for ways to reduce emissions. Automated valves are often driven by pressurized natural gas and can be a source of methane emissions. In a Control Engineering magazine article, New hydraulic actuator designs offer zero emission options , Emerson’s John Carroll highlights new actuator designs that eliminate these emissions. John opens noting the three main type of natural…
- 12 Nov 2021
Improving Terminal Reliability with Quality Isolation Valves

Jim Cahill

An InTech magazine article highlighted the statistic that only 28% of a valve’s lifecycle cost is the initial cost. This means that the majority of your total costs for valves are going towards maintenance and repair, energy consumption, asset disposal, and other costs. In this Storage Terminal Reliability podcast, Emerson’s David Leavitt discusses the challenges that you can face in the Tanks and Terminals industry…
- 8 Nov 2021
How to Select Valves for Molecular Sieve Switching Applications

Jim Cahill

As a business development manager for Emerson’s AEV C-Ball Valves , I recently published an article in the October 2021 issue of Plant Services. The article describes the unique and difficult challenges associated with molecular sieve switching valves and the new valve options available to address these issues. The article is titled How to Select Valves for Molecular Sieve Switching Applications and it is summarized below…
- 3 Nov 2021
Digital Valve Controller Travel Control with Pressure Fallback

Jim Cahill

Two posts, Valve Travel Control-Pressure Fallback and More on Digital Valve Controller Travel to Pressure Fallback Mode proved to be very popular with the readers of this blog. These posts, featuring Emerson’s Riyaz Ali shared how the Fisher DVC6200 digital valve controller can detect position feedback problems and automatically revert to current-to-pressure (I/P) transducer mode to keep the valve fully operational. …
- 26 Oct 2021
When is a SIL Suitability Rating Required for Final Control Elements?

Jim Cahill

Abstract Final Control Elements (Control valves or Safety Shut Down Valves) are the key components of any close loop control system, whether it is used for Basic Process Control Systems (BPCS) or for Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS). Financial constraints derive different constructions of valves suitable for throttling vs On-Off applications. However, due to past accidents, reliability has become a key criterion in…
- 19 Oct 2021
ROI Flows Through Your Valves—Why Valves Matter

Jim Cahill

The Valve Industry is a complex, fragmented, application-oriented category. Technology is only as good as application. Navigating the technology choices is only the starting point. Even specifying valves has become much more complex. Augmenting the specification with the right approach to digitalization, emissions compliance and other regulatory standards is a constantly evolving opportunity. Particularly as the needs…
- 4 Oct 2021
Understanding Control Valve Choked Flow

Jim Cahill

We’ve heard the term “choking” when it comes to athletic performance in not being able to perform in the moment. But what about choked flow when it comes to control valves? Image taken from Product Bulletin: Understanding Choked Flow in Fisher Valves Emerson’s Katherine Bartels and Adam Harmon address this question in an International Society of Automation Intech article, Choked Flow in Control Valves . Katherine…
- 31 Aug 2021
Reducing Tank Venting Equipment Fugitive Emissions

Jim Cahill

At the 4C Health, Safety & Environmental conference , Emerson’s Derek Kelly highlighted ways to reduce fugitive emissions from tank venting equipment. Here is the abstract of his presentation: Tank venting equipment such as blanketing regulators, thief hatches, pressure/vacuum relief valves and emergency vents are needed to safely operate AST’s. If these devices are not correctly sized and selected, excessive fugitive…
- 18 Aug 2021
More on Digital Valve Controller Travel to Pressure Fallback Mode

Jim Cahill

In a post last week, Valve Travel Control-Pressure Fallback , Emerson’s Riyaz Ali shared the process of how a control valve with a digital valve controller could fall back to standard pressure control upon an issue with the travel sensing mechanism. We both received a great email with some follow up questions that I thought would make a good follow on blog post. The first series of questions were, “What about friction…
- 10 Aug 2021
Valve Travel Control-Pressure Fallback

Jim Cahill

Valve position feedback is critical to the operation of a control valve. A Fisher Digital Valve Controller, the DVC6200 (HART or Foundation Fieldbus) can detect position feedback problems and automatically revert to I/P [current to pressure] transducer mode to keep the valve operational. This avoids costly unplanned spurious trips, which are critical for plant operational performance. The DVC6200 can change from Travel…
- 6 Aug 2021
EVALUE8 Podcast-An Avoidable Danger–Non-OEM Parts

Jim Cahill

In today’s complex business environment, the industrial plant owners face tremendous pressure to stay competitive. In this environment, the plant owners try to strike a proper balance between risk and reward. For a process plant, the main risks are compromised safety and/or plant downtime. Despite the high risk, not all process plant owners depend solely on OEM parts for their engineered valves. Use of non-OEM parts…
- 22 Jul 2021