Emerson Exchange 365

Actuators Blog (no longer active)
- 2 posts
- Updated over 7 years ago
Regulators - Blog (no longer active)
- 52 posts
- Updated over 1 year ago
Valves Blog (no longer active)
- 186 posts
- Updated 11 months ago
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog
- 71 posts
- Updated 8 days ago

Blog - Post List

Jim Cahill
- 8 Jan 2021
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Improving Test Bench Performance

At the Emerson Exchange Americas Virtual Series, Emerson’s Erica Brackman shared ways to improve test bench performance using TESCOM ER5000 series electropneumatic actuator . Here is her presentation’s abstract: Burst and proof testing are integral methodologies for ensuring the long-term performance of equipment used in pressurized conditions. If a supplier’s radiator hose, pressure vessel, or gauge were to burst...
Jim Cahill
- 7 Jan 2021
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Safely Test Solenoid Valves without Process Disturbances

At the Emerson Exchange Virtual Series, Emerson’s Joe McHugh and SIS-TECH Solutions ‘ Angela Summers presented on achieving increased safety and reliability through a redundant architecture. Here is their presentation’s abstract: In the context of production costs, something as small as a solenoid valve might not be at the top of your priority list. But the reality is that there are 100s, if not 1000s, of solenoid...
Jim Cahill
- 7 Jan 2021
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Discrete Valve Controller for Emergency Shutdown Applications

Emerson’s Austin Craft demonstrated the TopWorx for Emergency Shutdown valves which incorporates the HART 7 communications protocol during the Emerson Exchange Americas Virtual Series. The TopWorx DXP, a part of the D-Series discrete valve controllers , enable automated on/off valves to communicate via HART 7 and other digital communications protocols. It attaches to all rotary and linear valves and actuators, operates...
Jim Cahill
- 30 Nov 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Natural Gas Pipeline Distribution Overpressure Protection

Transporting natural gas through pipeline networks requires reliable overpressure protection solutions. A series of five overpressure protection for natural gas distribution systems webcasts are now available on demand to explore the use of these solutions for safe, reliable and efficient pipeline operations. These webcasts include: Introduction to Overpressure Protection (OPP) Worker Monitor Systems Pressure...
Jim Cahill
- 23 Nov 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Airset Regulators: Understanding a Critical but Often Overlooked Link in Safety Systems

Engineers who design safety systems are always mindful of a few basic truths: Anything can fail, so there should always be a backup. And sometimes, backups need backups. Looking at how this concept applies to pneumatically operated emergency shutdown (ESD) valves, and other similar on/off valves, is the main topic of my article in the November issue of Chemical Engineering . It’s important to pay attention to all the...
Jim Cahill
- 20 Nov 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: End of Life Expectancy for Final Control Elements in Safety and Control Systems

Mechanical items, such as shut down valves, isolation valves, control valves, actuators and other pneumatic accessories, if selected and sized properly during the design stage to meet process parameters/conditions, fluid comparability, environmental conditions, etc., will typically follow a bathtub curve aging lifecycle. The bathtub curve consists of three periods: an infant mortality period with a decreasing failure...
Jim Cahill
- 17 Nov 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Valve Monitoring: One Way to Realize Real Value from Digital Transformation

New technologies that are truly different often depend on a “killer app” to convince users to take the leap. For the Internet early on, it was email. Suddenly being able to communicate near instantaneously in writing provided visible value people could latch on to, and the rest is history. For industrial users, digital transformation has been similar. How and why it has been adopted in many locations is the topic of...
Jim Cahill
- 13 Nov 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Avoiding Cavitation with Two-Stage Backpressure Regulator

I had an email exchange with the inventor of the multistage-stage back pressure regulator, Emerson’s Ruediger Niebel . Here’s the patent abstract: Multi-stage fluid regulators are described. An example fluid regulator includes a regulator body having an inlet in fluid communication with a source of pressurized fluid. A first fluid valve is disposed within the regulator body and coupled to the inlet to regulate a pressure...
Jim Cahill
- 4 Nov 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Reducing Manual Valve Lineup Mistakes Podcast

For safer and more reliable terminal operations, it is important to know location of all products and their needed movements. Without clear visibility into the real-time health and operational status of the assets required for movements through the facility, problems can occur. One operational risk is in the lineup of the manual and automatic valves. Improper positions can result in unsafe conditions, unintended movements...
Jim Cahill
- 20 Oct 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Electric Valve Actuator Educational Video Series

Valve actuators drive the movement of valves either in on/off, modulating or control service. These actuators can be powered manually, pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically. For electric actuators, there is a great, educational YouTube series, Introduction to Valve Actuation and Electric Actuators . The 10 videos range from 2 minutes to 8 ½ minutes and feature these topics: Introduction to Valve Actuation...
Jim Cahill
- 14 Oct 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Turbine Bypass Valves in Steam Applications

Steam is widely used across many industrial processes to perform mechanical work and serve as a heat transfer fluid. Based on the application steam can range from dry, superheated steam to desuperheated steam near its saturation point. Steam conditioning valves help to control the temperature, pressure and quality of the steam. A 4-minute YouTube video, Sempell Turbine Bypass Valves explains how these steam conditioning...
Jim Cahill
- 2 Oct 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Dealing with Valve Cavitation

Control valves can be subjected to quite a bit of punishment by the flowing process in some applications. One of these destructive actions is cavitation. In a Flow Control article, Understanding and solving control valve cavitation problems , Emerson’s Thirumalai Karthik (TK) Arasu opens highlighting the potential severity of cavitation. Unanticipated cavitation can destroy a control valve’s internals and even result...
Jim Cahill
- 16 Sep 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Looking Beyond Immediate VOC Emission Compliance to Process Optimization

When dealing with issues related to environmental compliance, many engineers tend to stop thinking about the situation as soon as they reach the goal line. Compliance costs money, so they stop working on improving performance the instant they achieve the needed result. This is unfortunate because an environmental compliance effort is also an excellent opportunity to examine interrelated equipment and process practices...
Jim Cahill
- 28 Aug 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Advances in Butterfly Valve Technology

Butterfly valves have been used going all the way back to the late 18 th century . In a Flow Control article, The evolution of the butterfly valve , Emerson’s Joanne Lunsford describes some of the advances to for this important technology in manufacturing and production processes. One key advantage of butterfly valve technology is that they: …offer an effective shutoff method for the isolation and regulation of fluid...
Jim Cahill
- 7 Jul 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Digital Transformation for Sustaining Control Valve Performance

Digital transformation is broad concept signifying the use of data and easy accessibility to fundamentally change work processes. In a LinkedIn essay, Transform to Valve 4.0: Digital Control + Analytics , Emerson’s Jonas Berge describes how the performance of control valves can be more effectively managed and maintained for better operational performance. Jonas opens painting a picture on what digital transformation...
Jim Cahill
- 6 Jul 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Learning about Control Valve Performance

In manufacturing processes with flowing fluids, control valves are among the most important equipment to keep the process operating smoothly and reliably. For those not experienced in their design and operation, AIChE’s CEP magazine has a great article, Evaluate Control Valve Performance ( AIChE membership required to view full article.) Emerson’s James Beall authored the article and highlights the importance of focusing...
Jim Cahill
- 2 Jul 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Rotary Vane Valve Actuators for Critical Applications

If you’re unfamiliar with rotary vane valves actuators, they are used to automate ball valves or plug valves in all types of severe climatic conditions. These actuators are typically installed in applications that are critical in nature where the consequences of failure can be severe. For example, in natural gas pipeline applications these actuators are typically powered by natural gas for use in emergency shutdowns...
Jim Cahill
- 20 May 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Digitalization for Improved Valve Reliability

How do you keep up with the performance of your valves given their importance to safe, efficient and reliable process operations? In a Pumps&Systems article, Digitalization to Predict Reliability of Mechanical Valves , Emerson’s Riyaz Ali shares ways continuous monitoring technology can help. Riyaz opens noting these valves or final control elements (FCEs) connected to the basic process control system (BPCS): …are...
Jim Cahill
- 4 May 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Sizing Control Valves for Intended Applications

I received a LinkedIn message earlier today. Here’s a portion of the message: I want abstract or article for fisher control valves issues faced during sizing selection mainly because of process and their solutions. if you could provide something, it is very helpful. Thank you!!! I connected with my friends who work with Emerson’s Fisher brand of control valves. It’s a very broad question and the best place to begin...
Jim Cahill
- 29 Apr 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: IIoT Sensors, Analytics and Remote Experts for Control Valves

We have highlighted in earlier posts how Industrial Internet of Things technologies have found their way into process automation including control valves to help improve safety, reliability and efficiency. In a Process Industry Informer article, Transform Operations with IIoT-enabled Control Valves , Emerson’s Clint Schneider and Michael Lester describe how actionable insights can by continuously monitoring the health...
Jim Cahill
- 22 Apr 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Continuously Monitoring Overpressure Devices

Managing pressure is critical for most process manufacturing & production operations. Pressure relief valves (PRVs) protect against overpressure conditions and are often considered the last line of defense from catastrophic failures. Marcio Donnangelo Marcelo Dultra Standards such as ASME Pressure Relief Devices PTC 25-2014 and API RP 520, Part I-2014 identify types, sizing and practices for effective overpressure...
Jim Cahill
- 14 Apr 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Valve Condition Monitoring for Improved Operational Performance

The Industrial Internet of Things technologies enable more assets to be continuously monitored than was economically practical when wired sensors were the only option. With this additional flow of data, the value comes from being able to interpret this data to take action to improve operational performance in safety, reliability and efficiency. Control valves, found widely across process and hybrid manufacturing and...
Jim Cahill
- 7 Apr 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Simplifying Pressure Relief Valve Lifecycle Management

Proven RFID technology has been widely used in supply chain applications and has now found application in the manufacturing and production industries. I highlighted how it being used to better plan and streamline valve maintenance in a post, Improving Valve Maintenance and Planning with RFID Technology . This RFID technology is now also available for pressure relief valves (PRVs). In this quick, 2:36 YouTube video...
Jim Cahill
- 25 Mar 2020
Valves, Actuators & Regulators Blog: Considerations for Ball Valves in High Temperature Applications

Jason Jablonski Wade Helfer Petroleum refineries and several other processing industries have high-temperature flows. Valves used for throttling and on/off control must be made of materials to withstand the high temperatures. In a Hydrocarbon Processing article, Using ball valves in high-temperature applications , Emerson’s Jason Jablonski and Wade Helfer share recommendations for manufacturers and producers to...
Jim Cahill
- 31 Jan 2020
Valves Blog (no longer active): Fail-Safe Electric Actuators for Quarter-Turn Valves

Aaron Roepke For many applications, such as emergency shutdowns (ESD), on-off quarter valves with electric actuators are the best fit. In the event of loss of power, some type of fail-safe mechanism may be required to bring the valve into an open or closed position as required by the process. These applications are typically found in the oil & gas, power, chemical, HVAC, and water & wastewater industries. The Bettis...