Electric actuators in oil and petroleum industries

Paul Boughton

Michael Herbstritt looks at how the Indian Oil Corporation and Petro SA are using modular electric actuators.

The Indian Oil Corporation Limited awarded a contract to AUMA for its Naphtha Cracker and Polymer complex. The Naphtha Cracker project is widely viewed as representing the cornerstone of Indian Oil's entry into petrochemicals. Actuators from AUMA's established range of modular products were supplied to the scheme located in the Northern Indian state of Haryana.

With a capacity of 800000MT/year of ethylene production, the Naphtha installation required 75 actuators for valve control. The major scale installation confirms AUMA's ability to support blue-chip schemes. The project is also an excellent illustration of the actuator manufacturer's partnership approach - by working closely with the corporation, AUMA identified that both hard wired and bus technology were required, backed by master station support.

All actuators were supplied with control modules suitable for MODBUS RTU protocol. Additionally, SIMA master stations and hot standby master station with loop technology were provided. ESD functionality has also been achieved through hardwired operation.

The master stations in redundant configuration communicate through MODBUS RTU protocol with Yokogawa DCS CS 3000. AUMA also provided PCs to monitor the actuators' functions via the SIMA master stations.

AUMA South Africa has secured a contract for the company's new Generation.2 actuators with Petro SA, formerly MOSSGASS.

Products from the new actuator range will be installed in an air separation plant built by Linde Air.

The plant has exclusively used AUMA actuators since it was built in 1990. With 24-7 operation, the actuation technology provides essential support ensuring effective valve control. The upgrade took place as existing equipment came to the end of its life cycle.

Petro SA, which has been a long standing adopter of AUMA's actuation solutions, highlighted reliability and service as two key reasons for continuing to adopt the company's electric actuator solutions.

The evolution to AUMA's Generation.2 products will be done during planned maintenance outages. AUMA reports that its new Generation.2 multi-turn actuator range SA 07.2 - 16.2 and actuator controls AC 01.2 follow its modular design ethos which ensures an easy upgrade.

Designed to cater for existing market needs, and next generation requirements, capabilities of AUMA's new product series include the integration of field devices into Asset Management systems. A number of enhanced features have been introduced and functionality of the range has been expanded, while retaining proven design principles.

AUMA's new Generation.2 devices, both actuators and controls, are fully compatible with the company's previous products - this ensures low-risk investment and ensures that AUMA stays at the forefront of technology.

The new AUMA multi-turn actuator type range Generation.2 has been on the market since the beginning of last year. AUMA presented the version for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (II2G Ex de IIC T4) at the Valve World Conference for the first time in November 2010.

Enhanced functionality provided in the Generation.2 range that are advancements over the company's original product series include extended lifetime, larger temperature range and improved corrosion protection.

Benefits for demanding applications include a new coating offering superior corrosion protection at highest mechanical resistance and a version for modulating duty offers an extended speed range/improved modulating accuracy.

Development focus for Generation.2 centred on improved handling and operation. An enlarged plug-in electrical connection provides improved connection facilities, a single motor plug/socket connection is incorporated and AUMA's proven handwheel activation was optimised.

Integral controls for Generation.2 actuators are equipped with Bluetooth interfaces. With the integration of torque, temperature and vibration sensors, new intelligent diagnostic functions supply significant actuator status information such as torque characteristics which can be captured at any time.

Actuator feedback signals can be classified according to NAMUR recommendation NE 107 and integrated into Asset Management systems. Full compatibility with the company's previous products is offered.

Features include:

- Torques: 10-1000 Nm.

- Output speeds for open-close and modulating actuators 4-180rpm.

- High IP enclosure protection.

- Explosion proof version available.

- High corrosion protection.

- Parallel interface to the DCS: up to 10 binary inputs;up to 12 output contacts; up to 2 analogue inputs and outputs.

- Interfaces to fieldbus systems Profibus DP-V2 and Modbus RTU, amongst others.

- Electrical connection via AUMA plug/socket connector with enlarged terminal compartment/cable entries.

A next step enhancement to support new generation communication technology is the introduction of a wireless interface.

Expertise in the oil and gas industries is reinforced in a new AUMA video detailing the company's competency in actuation technology. Endorsements and application details from users around the globe are provided on www.auma.com.

Enter √ at www.engineerlive.com/iog

Michael Herbstritt, Technical Author, is with AUMA Riester GmbH & Co KG, Muellheim, Germany. www.auma.com

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