Preventing plant shutdown
15 Apr 2014
Smith Flow Control has introduced the TorkDrive to prevent plant shutdown and protect plant assets.
TorkDrive has two distinct benefits. It prevents valve damage, reducing the need for expensive plant shutdown and valve replacement (through over-torque) and provides vital information regarding site maintenance requirements.
TorkDrive is designed to increase valve life as it prevents the operator from applying excessive force when closing the valve, protecting the valve seat.
It controls the torque applied when operating a valve, ensuring that the same force is used regardless of the strength of the operator.
The system can be incorporated into plant maintenance systems and schedules and is set to a predetermined maximum torque and, if during the operation cycle of the valve, the operating torque increases above the maximum limit, the TorkDrive will slip, indicating an irregular valve condition.
This will alert the operator to report the valve status to site maintenance, rather than continue to apply force to the valve.
TorkDrive boasts a compact design, weighing less than 4kg, despite an all-mechanical construction. It is a completely maintenance free device, made from 316 Stainless Steel and is suitable for oil refineries, power plants, paper mills, water plants and chemical processing facilities.
It can withstand temperatures from -56°C to +100°C, with a torque setting range from 80Nm – 500Nm and can be installed directly to manually operated valves, requiring torque monitoring over 80Nm.
Moreover, it also benefits from IP65 protection, safeguarding the device in the most aggressive of environments.
Each unit is factory set before installation and the unit can be adjusted to suit the host equipment’s torque requirements using a calibrated setting scale within the body of the device.
For more information, please contact: +44 (0)1376 517901, Email: sales@smithflowcontrol.com or visit: www.smithflowcontrol.com
