Global valve and actuator manufacturer IMI has scored a multi-million euro contract to supply seven anti surge valves to a major offshore production facility in the North Sea.
The project will see IMI replacing old valves with new pressure relief valves. The goal is to improve the reliability, efficiency and environmental performance of the facility.
State-of-the-art anti surge valves
The new valves are made from additively manufactured components and feature IMI’s patented DRAG technology. The multi-stage, multi-path design directs fluid through a highly resistant, tortuous path to gradually reduce inlet pressure. This limits the fluid velocity at the trim and eliminates the risk of vibration, noise and erosion.
The anti surge valves are also equipped with IMI’s SC/V actuators, which use a special piston design for smooth and precise operation. Additionally, the valves feature the high capacity and precision SHP (Smart High Performance) digital pneumatic positioner.
A step towards greater efficiency and sustainability
The SHP positioner uses a control algorithm system and patented logic to achieve very short stroking times with high dynamic control. It also offers both online and offline diagnostic functions. These enable operators to monitor the valve during operation and also enable stage, valve signature and frequency tests to be carried out.
From a sustainability perspective, fugitive emissions are a major challenge for upstream offshore production platforms. For this reason, the new relief valves include IMI’s EEEasy-Seal™ stem packing solution, which provides leakage protection up to ISO class AM FE and is third-party certified to ISO 15848-1.
Giuseppe Buscemi, EMEA President of Process Automation at IMI, commented: “We are proud to once again assist our longstanding customer in the North Sea with such a critical infrastructure upgrade. Valve design has come a long way in recent years. O ur ability to match state-of-the-art additive manufactured components with the very latest in positioning and stem packing technology was crucial to a successful re-tender. With environmental targets for offshore upstream production facilities becoming increasingly stringent, it is more important than ever that every component can make a tangible contribution to a site’s emissions reduction strategy. For this customer, our anti-surge valves will do just that.”
