The Rotork Skilmatic SI self-contained electro-hydraulic valve actuator combines all-electric simplicity with the precision of hydraulic actuation and the reliability of mechanical failsafe operation. Typical applications for Skilmatic actuators include functional safety related Emergency Shutdown (ESD) and Remotely Operated Shutoff Valve (ROSoV) duties.

Skilmatic’s advanced control and monitoring system has now been further developed with the introduction of the 3rd Generation, incorporating proven Rotork IQ3 intelligent electric actuator technology. Communication and data logging capabilities have been increased in response to end users’ desire to access more valve related data, both in the field and in the control room.

The 3rd Generation of the SI actuator will consist of four models with multiple actuator sizes known as SI³-1, SI³-2, SI³-3 and SI³-4, enabling Rotork to offer quarter-turn failsafe actuation from 65Nm up to 600,000Nm for functional safety applications. As part of the development Rotork has enhanced the range by introducing the new SI³-3 standard range of spring return actuators with a torque range of 2,000Nm to 20,000Nm. This new range offers a wide choice of operating speeds, additional ESD options with single or dual inputs and enhancements to partial stroking to meet a wide range of applications.

Skilmatic SI 3rd Generation actuators combine established features including non-intrusive setting, performance monitoring and configurable data logging with an extended torque output range, increased functionality and enhanced availability of valve and process data for asset management and data analysis, displayed in a new, large and information-rich format.

Robustly constructed for challenging environments, SI 3rd Generation actuators deliver a highly reliable means of valve management and positioning a valve to a safe condition. Safe valve positioning is selectable for failsafe to open, failsafe to close or lock in position on either loss of power or a range of programmable ESD signal options.

The SI 3rd Generation control module facilitates simple, safe and swift non-intrusive commissioning by means of an intrinsically safe hand held setting tool with infra-red and Bluetooth™ interfaces. Settings including internal hydraulic pressure, position, limits, control, alarm and indication functions can be accessed and adjusted using user-friendly Rotork ‘point and shoot’ menus. Actuator status, control and alarm icons are provided on an advanced new dual-stack toughened glass illuminated display which also gives access to real-time information such as pressure, diagnostics and help screens.

Rotork’s innovative CVA electric control valve actuator technology has successfully delivered an improvement in performance with reduced operating costs for the vital gas blending process on a European natural gas distribution network.

Fluxys is the independent operator of the natural gas storage and transmission system in Belgium, supplying domestic and industrial consumers throughout the country. Because the natural gas can come from different sources and the composition of each source varies, the quality of the gas is closely monitored for calorific value and density at blending stations. The gas blending process is therefore a critical part of the transmission and storage structure, impacting on product quality, environmental regulations and profitability.

Wishing to improve the blending process, Fluxys identified valve actuation as a key area. Improving process valve response times whilst reducing dead-time and overshoot would increase control efficiency and eliminate potential cycling and variability problems. If an electrical solution could also be found, it would reduce operating costs and improve environmental performance by eliminating the requirement to waste gas through venting to air as determined by existing equipment.

Prodim, Rotork’s agent in Belgium, proposed the use of the CVL-5000 electric control valve actuator as an alternative to the existing actuator on a blending flow control valve in a trial at the Fluxys booster station at Le Roeuix. As well as simplified, all-electric operation with low power consumption, the CVL-5000 delivers a high thrust linear output performance that suits the heavy duty demands of the large control valves used in the application, combined with a programmable integral failsafe capability.

Engineers from Fluxys, Rotork and Mokveld removed the existing actuator, fitted an ATEX certified explosionproof CVL-5000, re-connected the control signal and carried out a series of tests that demonstrated improved response times, accurate valve positioning, low running costs and fail-to-position operation on loss of mains supply. As a result, Fluxys has decided to adopt the CVL-5000 as the standard actuator for its gas blending plants; over time, existing valves will be retrofitted whilst new valves will have the actuators factory fitted. It is estimated that the improved performance achieved by each valve installation can be accompanied by an annual saving of up to 5000 euros in operating costs per unit.

Rockwell Automation has rebuilt Motion Analyzer software as a Web tool. The tool offers new user-friendly features and a vastly expanded product catalog to help engineers more easily specify, design and validate complete motion control systems.

The Motion Analyzer Web tool is cloud-based, allowing users to access, update and collaborate on projects stored in a single location, reducing version control issues and the need to share project files back and forth. A cloud-based platform also means users are no longer limited by the processing speed of their computers when designing systems for more complex applications. The tool’s new browser-style format allows users to filter, review and compare products and general pricing, similar to search capabilities on popular e-commerce sites.

“Incorrectly sizing a motion system not only generates unnecessary costs in wasted engineering time and re-stocking fees, but it can greatly slow a machine’s time-to-market,” said Michael Lennard, product manager, Motion Solutions, Rockwell Automation. “The latest Motion Analyzer release is an evolution of the platform that is more collaborative, expansive and easy to use. When engineers can quickly create and examine complete motion control systems within a single platform, they can spend more time innovating and improving their machines.”

The Motion Analyzer Web tool provides machine builders access to a wider range of motion control products than ever before. It now incorporates products from nine Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork Encompass product partners, including STOBER Drives, NIDEC-SHIMPO, item North America, Tolomatic, Nook Industries, WITTENSTEIN, Exlar Corporation, Bonitron and Elwood Corporation.

“Collaboration between various disciplines among machine builders and automation solution providers is critical to lower the Total Cost to Design, Develop and Deliver equipment,” said Clayton Webber, national sales manager, STOBER Drives. “Having mechatronic solutions up-to-date in the cloud establishes Motion Analyzer as a differentiator in machine design. STOBER and Rockwell Automation are striving to lead online solutions for machine design.”

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Yokogawa Electric Corporation announces the development of the SMARTDAC+® GX20W wireless paperless recorder. This new product supports the ISA100 Wireless™ industrial automation wireless communication standard and is expected to become an essential component of the SMARTDAC+ data acquisition and control system. The GX20W will be released to the market on November 12.

The GX20W comes with an ISA100 Wireless gateway function that enables it to wirelessly collect and record information from ISA100 Wireless devices. It facilitates the acquisition of data from locations that are inaccessible to recorders or where it is difficult to accommodate conventional wired devices.

Plants use all kinds of field devices to measure items such as temperature, pressure, liquid level, gas concentration, and vibration. With a field wireless system, communication between field devices and host monitoring systems is done wirelessly. Demand for field wireless systems is growing because the field wireless devices can be placed in locations that cannot be accessed with conventional wired devices and cost less to install.

Plant facility monitoring systems often include recorders that collect and record measurement data from field devices. The GX20W is ideal for use in such systems.

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