Prevent Dangerous Explosions with BLRBAC Recommended Electric Actuators
If you are operating a kraft pulping mill, you are aware of the dangers associated with water coming in contact with smelt in your recovery boilers. Even a small amount of water can lead to catastrophic damage. For this reason, it is critical to have an emergency drainage system in place to quickly drain pipes if a leak occurs.
Because the ramifications of not properly preparing for such an occasion are so deadly, Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Advisory Committee (BLRBAC) has developed procedures and best practices to govern the operation of Black Liquor Recovery Boilers (BLRB). Specifically, they have developed procedures around emergency shutdown and the types of drain valves and actuation that are appropriate for this application.
Cross Company is proud to offer our customers Rotork IQ3 Series valve actuators that meet BLRBAC recommended practice guidance. These actuators have a number of features that help you to reduce risk in your operation and make sure your employees are safe.
Rotork IQ3 Series
The key function of these valve assemblies is that they will drain condensate when your ESD procedure is initiated. The actuators must open the valves regardless of any other signals, or manual settings being sent to the actuator at the time of the ESD. This ensures that even if your team cannot get to the valve it will open to drain water away from the smelt. Rotork accomplishes this in the IQ3 with separate wiring terminals specifically for shutdown procedures that will override all other signals in the case of an emergency.
The IQ3 series are smart actuators with an onboard computer that logs information about the operation of the device including the force required to open and close the valve, time to open or close, the position of the actuator, the temperature of the electronics, etc. All of this data is stored in the memory of the device, but can be accessed at any time with the included handheld Rotork Setting Tool. The data can then be uploaded by connecting the handheld device to a PC utilizing Insight 2, Rotork’s free software for monitoring and configuring their smart actuators. The IQ3 series actuators can also be monitored via a network such as Modbus RTU, Profibus, Devicenet, or their own Pakscan Network with optional communication cards.
Beyond being able to simply find out data about the function of your device, the ability to check the health of your valve assembly between weekly or monthly tests gives you an added level of security knowing that everything is functioning properly. Additionally, the Rotork IQ3 has a status relay that will trip anytime the actuator is not ready for use. Examples of conditions that would trip the alarm include any internal error such as overheating, a failed sensor, loss of power, circuit board failure, stall condition, or if the actuator is being switched manually from run to local or stop. This is just another way that the device gives you real-time updates on the status of your equipment.
Find The Right Industrial Solutions for Your Kraft Pulping Mill With Cross
If you operate a kraft pulping mill, you need to make sure Rotork IQ3 actuators are part of your emergency shutdown procedure to ensure the safety of your facility. Contact us today to talk with one of our valve experts and learn more!
