Control and diagnostics

The first smart solenoid valve for “partial stroke test”

 

Fig4_IMI PRECISIONIn order to supply a complete solution for the Partial Stroke Test (PST), IMI Precision Engineering has developed the first solenoid valve that perfectly integrates the two main typologies of PST smart systems, positioners and electronic systems.

The PST has been widely used in the oil and gas industry to test the functions of final assemblies in safety systems, allowing operators to verify the performance levels of emergency stop valves. Nevertheless, both main PST methods feature some drawbacks that have led IMI Precision Engineering, world leader in the technologies for the motion and fluid control, to find an alternative solution able to enhance strong points and to eliminate the drawbacks of both, thus granting a high-level diagnostics with the control of position, time and pressure. The smart solenoid valve IMI Maxseal ICO4-PST is the first of its kind that integrates the positioner termination seat with the control mechanism of the electronic system, thus becoming a highly integrated solenoid valve with the least rate of more or less serious failure compared to whatever smart PST available on the market. The double cut out mechanism eliminates the extra-stroke possibility while the high flow rate (CV up to 6.0) reduces the need of using dump valves, pilot valves and boosters. The structural simplicity makes it ideal for retrofit applications, while the flexibility of the smart ICO4-PST solenoid valve allows a simple configuration for specific environmental and applicative requirements. Compatible with valve speeds included between 2 and 120 seconds, ICO4-PST can also operate in a wide range of temperatures, from -40° to +60° and it can be designed for solenoid 1oo1, 1oo2, 2oo2 or 2oo3 configurations. Richard Harvey, Sales Development manager of IMI Precision Engineering, stated: «With over 80 years of experience in the development of safe, reliable and durable challenging applications in the oil and gas sector worldwide, we perfectly know what challenges operators must face; the smart ICO4-PST solenoid valve represents the last example of our capability of supplying cutting-edge technical solutions. ICO4-PST can be customized for various applications, being compatible with ball-, throttle-.gate-, globe-and HIPPS valves and suiting a broad range of pneumatic actuators, with spring and quarter-turn return.»

In 2015, Norgren became IMI Precision Engineering, a brand that includes a portfolio of brands of primary products encompassing IMI Norgren, IMI Buschjost, IMI FAS, IMI Herion and IMI Maxseal.