Blog - Post List
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Wellhead Electrification Drives Optimization Program

    At the 2022 Emerson Exchange conference, Prabhat Behera from Occidental (Oxy) shared insights and lessons learned from a wellhead electrification project. Puffer-Sweiven’s Jack Lee and Emerson’s Damian Trujillo joined him to provide additional context on the integrated model that brought together the application, product and services. Here is their session abstract: Shutdown valves installed at the wellhead for oil…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Reducing Emissions from Vessels, Valves, and other Equipment

    Marcel Dultra , Dan Myers , and Emily Thomas of Emerson recently published an article in the September 2022 issue of Valve World Americas. It is titled “Greening Process Equipment One Device at a Time” and it discusses a host of recently introduced technologies designed to significantly reduce emissions. A summary of the article follows. Numerous government standards targeting greenhouse gas emission reductions, as…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Reducing Emissions from Vessels, Valves, and other Equipment

    Marcel Dultra , Dan Myers , and Emily Thomas of Emerson recently published an article in the September 2022 issue of Valve World Americas. It is titled “Greening Process Equipment One Device at a Time” and it discusses a host of recently introduced technologies designed to significantly reduce emissions. A summary of the article follows. Numerous government standards targeting greenhouse gas emission reductions, as…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Innovation in Controlling Exothermic Reactions in Biodiesel Processing

    Emerson Impact Partner Applied Control ’s Julia Imhoff and Miranda Hunter teamed with Renaissance Technologies’ Terry Wilford to discuss a novel way to avoid catalyst damage for a high exothermic reaction. Here is their session’s abstract: When producing renewable biodiesel, a goal during the process is to produce the correct reaction between oils and catalysts. During production, if the reactor undergoes an upset condition…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Innovation in Controlling Exothermic Reactions in Biodiesel Processing

    Emerson Impact Partner Applied Control ’s Julia Imhoff and Miranda Hunter teamed with Renaissance Technologies’ Terry Wilford to discuss a novel way to avoid catalyst damage for a high exothermic reaction. Here is their session’s abstract: When producing renewable biodiesel, a goal during the process is to produce the correct reaction between oils and catalysts. During production, if the reactor undergoes an upset condition…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Innovative Rotary Valve Trim for Severe Service Conditions

    Emerson’s Justin Lannin and Vinson Process Controls’ Mike Stinn teamed up to present, Hex & The City: Ponca City Refinery Reduces Maintenance with Fisher Cavitrol Hex , at the 2022 Emerson Exchange conference. Here is their session’s abstract: Phillips 66’s (P66) Ponca City Refinery, in Ponca City Oklahoma produces a full range of products and has a large blending unit where finished products are made. A severe service…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Innovative Rotary Valve Trim for Severe Service Conditions

    Emerson’s Justin Lannin and Vinson Process Controls’ Mike Stinn teamed up to present, Hex & The City: Ponca City Refinery Reduces Maintenance with Fisher Cavitrol Hex , at the 2022 Emerson Exchange conference. Here is their session’s abstract: Phillips 66’s (P66) Ponca City Refinery, in Ponca City Oklahoma produces a full range of products and has a large blending unit where finished products are made. A severe service…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Reduce Waste & Increase Efficiency in Clean-in-Place Processes

    While the idea of adding costs to a food and beverage or pharmaceutical industry process like Clean-in-Place/Steam-in-Place (CIP/SIP) has not traditionally been an easy decision, in today’s industrial environment that has changed. With the retirement of experts, the lack of availability of workers, the increase in materials costs and narrowness of margins, the principal way for food and beverage and pharma companies to…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Reduce Waste & Increase Efficiency in Clean-in-Place Processes

    While the idea of adding costs to a food and beverage or pharmaceutical industry process like Clean-in-Place/Steam-in-Place (CIP/SIP) has not traditionally been an easy decision, in today’s industrial environment that has changed. With the retirement of experts, the lack of availability of workers, the increase in materials costs and narrowness of margins, the principal way for food and beverage and pharma companies to…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Role of Intelligent Electric Valve Actuators in Digital Transformation

    Valves play a critical role in managing the process’s flow for process manufacturers and producers. As companies look to transform their operations to drive greater safety, sustainability, and reliability, increasing the intelligence in these devices helps the overall digital transformation efforts. In a Process Industry Informer article, Flow Control – The Current State of Industrial Digital Transformation and a Look…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Role of Intelligent Electric Valve Actuators in Digital Transformation

    Valves play a critical role in managing the process’s flow for process manufacturers and producers. As companies look to transform their operations to drive greater safety, sustainability, and reliability, increasing the intelligence in these devices helps the overall digital transformation efforts. In a Process Industry Informer article, Flow Control – The Current State of Industrial Digital Transformation and a Look…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Avoiding Actuator Damage from Failed Components

    Manufacturers and producers must think through their process safety on ways to mitigate risks against failure conditions in the components within a basic process control system (BPCS) or safety instrumented system (SIS). For instance, failures can occur on air filter regulators (AFRs) on valve actuators. I mention this because I connected with Emerson’s Riyaz Ali , who had a discussion with a major international oil company…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Avoiding Actuator Damage from Failed Components

    Manufacturers and producers must think through their process safety on ways to mitigate risks against failure conditions in the components within a basic process control system (BPCS) or safety instrumented system (SIS). For instance, failures can occur on air filter regulators (AFRs) on valve actuators. I mention this because I connected with Emerson’s Riyaz Ali , who had a discussion with a major international oil company…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Partial Stroke Tests and Diagnostics for Emergency Shutdown Valves

    Emergency shutdown valves perform the work of bringing the process to a safe state in the event of a hazardous condition. They must be periodically tested, because, unlike other valves, they may sit dormant for a long time. This 2:22 YouTube video, Emerson TopWorx DX PST with HART 7 , explains how this partial stroke and emergency shutdown valve controller controls and monitors these shutdown valves. To test the capability…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Partial Stroke Tests and Diagnostics for Emergency Shutdown Valves

    Emergency shutdown valves perform the work of bringing the process to a safe state in the event of a hazardous condition. They must be periodically tested, because, unlike other valves, they may sit dormant for a long time. This 2:22 YouTube video, Emerson TopWorx DX PST with HART 7 , explains how this partial stroke and emergency shutdown valve controller controls and monitors these shutdown valves. To test the capability…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Actuation Solutions for Constrained Spaces

    I recently had an article published in the August 2022 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing. It is titled “Why Compact Actuation Solutions are Ideal for Constrained Space Installations,” and it discusses how a vertical profile actuator is providing new opportunities for space-constrained applications. A summary of the article follows. Space constraints are common in the oil and gas industry. However floating production,…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Actuation Solutions for Constrained Spaces

    I recently had an article published in the August 2022 issue of Hydrocarbon Processing. It is titled “Why Compact Actuation Solutions are Ideal for Constrained Space Installations,” and it discusses how a vertical profile actuator is providing new opportunities for space-constrained applications. A summary of the article follows. Space constraints are common in the oil and gas industry. However floating production,…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Clarifying Rebuilds to Extend Valve Lifespans

    I received a question from an earlier post, End of Life Expectancy for Final Control Elements in Safety and Control Systems , by Emerson’s Riyaz Ali . The instrument & control engineer who came upon the blog post wrote: In your article, you mention that “preventive maintenance practices play an important role in extending the life of mechanical items. Especially if they are re-built correctly each time during a shutdown…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Clarifying Rebuilds to Extend Valve Lifespans

    I received a question from an earlier post, End of Life Expectancy for Final Control Elements in Safety and Control Systems , by Emerson’s Riyaz Ali . The instrument & control engineer who came upon the blog post wrote: In your article, you mention that “preventive maintenance practices play an important role in extending the life of mechanical items. Especially if they are re-built correctly each time during a shutdown…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Driving Combined Cycle Efficiency Gains

    Combined cycle electrical power generation facilities play an essential role in providing baseload power to the grid. The principle of operation : …is that after completing its cycle in the first engine, the working fluid (the exhaust) is still hot enough that a second subsequent heat engine can extract energy from the heat in the exhaust. Usually, the heat passes through a heat exchanger so that the two engines can…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Driving Combined Cycle Efficiency Gains

    Combined cycle electrical power generation facilities play an essential role in providing baseload power to the grid. The principle of operation : …is that after completing its cycle in the first engine, the working fluid (the exhaust) is still hot enough that a second subsequent heat engine can extract energy from the heat in the exhaust. Usually, the heat passes through a heat exchanger so that the two engines can…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Control Valves in Safety Instrumented Functions

    A reader of this blog came upon the post, When is a SIL Suitability Rating Required for Final Control Elements? The reader sent an email to the blog post author, Emerson’s Riyaz Ali , asking (of which I’ll paraphrase): When is it possible to use control valves like final elements for SIS [safety instrumented system] application? I am looking for other useful documents and technical requirements when it is possible to…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Control Valves in Safety Instrumented Functions

    A reader of this blog came upon the post, When is a SIL Suitability Rating Required for Final Control Elements? The reader sent an email to the blog post author, Emerson’s Riyaz Ali , asking (of which I’ll paraphrase): When is it possible to use control valves like final elements for SIS [safety instrumented system] application? I am looking for other useful documents and technical requirements when it is possible to…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Valve Stem Sealing Best Practices

    I just saw a post, Article: Proper Valve Stem Sealing Best Practices , in the Valves Forum in the Valves, Actuators & Regulators group in the Emerson Exchange 365 community. The post by Emerson’s Mark Nymeyer recaps an Intech article by Lisa Miller , Proper Valve Stem Sealing Best Practices . Here is an excerpt of the opening of the post, and I invite you to read the full summary as well as Lisa’s article. Emerson…
  • Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Valve Stem Sealing Best Practices

    I just saw a post, Article: Proper Valve Stem Sealing Best Practices , in the Valves Forum in the Valves, Actuators & Regulators group in the Emerson Exchange 365 community. The post by Emerson’s Mark Nymeyer recaps an Intech article by Lisa Miller , Proper Valve Stem Sealing Best Practices . Here is an excerpt of the opening of the post, and I invite you to read the full summary as well as Lisa’s article. Emerson…