Emerson Exchange 365

By Jim Montague

After six decades of developing on/off valve automation solutions, it might seem logical for Emerson Process Management to pause and take a well-deserved breather. But anyone who thinks that doesn't know how this company works. Just like the changing seasons and national holidays that are forever rolling around, Emerson ceaselessly investigates new ways to make its on/off valves and supporting technologies serve its users better and achieve greater success. 

"Customers are always seeking to gain more benefits from their valves, so even though we started out 60 years ago making pneumatic and hydraulic valves, we're now doing many of the same tasks in smaller, tighter and more compact envelopes," said David Plum, president of Emerson's valve automation business unit. He announced two new valve products at a Tuesday press conference this week at the Emerson Global Users Exchange in Orlando, Florida. 

Plum reported that the $3 billion valve automation market has gained multiple technologies for fail-safe and emergency shutdowns, and that electric actuators are one of its largest and fastest growing segments, while its primary applications include oil and gas, chemical, power, water and wastewater, refining and pipelines. "We want to be the one force driving valves everywhere," added Plum. 

To accomplish this goal and further enable its users, Plum announced that Emerson has added a robust electro-hydraulic operator (EHO) to its broad valve automation capabilities with the release of the Bettis EHO actuator, which couples proven technologies from Emerson’s actuation and controls solutions to handle critical shutdown situations where dependability is crucial. 

"The Bettis EHO capitalizes on proven EIM electronics, Bettis mechanics and Shafer hydraulic technologies," explained Plum. "This gives it high-torque capability in a field-proven, reliable and modular design, resulting in dependable performance for safety and environmental protection applications." 

In addition, the EHO is available in spring-return or double-acting configurations and can operate on utility electrical power or optional solar power for remote areas where electric power is unavailable or not reliable. The EHO is operable in temperatures ranging from -40 °F to +140 °F (-40 °C to +60 °C). Its fail-safe capability is reliable, with fast close or open stroke times suitable for emergency shutdown in oil or gas service.  

In his second major announcement, Plum reported that Emerson's new high-performance electric actuator, EIM Model 500 with TEC2 electronics, builds on decades of electric actuator innovation, while adding state-of-the-art electronic control technology for use in rotary and linear valve applications. Its TEC2 electronics provide the visibility, insight and reliable control needed for effective plant operations. In today’s plant environments, getting timely information on valve operation in process units is key to reducing costly downtime, and so the Model 500's TEC2 electronics provide ready information on actuator status and diagnostics that help operations avoid unscheduled downtime. 

"The Model 500 is targeted to automate lower torque valve applications," added Plum. "It has proven non-intrusive EIM technology, a lightweight and compact design, options to operate in both linear or rotary valve applications, and diagnostics to reduce unplanned maintenance and improve turnaround planning."