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Tool-Tech AS has been granted a Norwegian Patent no. 326524 for a pilot actuator for hydraulic control valves. An international PCT application has been approved and the invention is ready for international patenting.
The largest potential for the new invention is to make cartridge valves acceptable for use in Sub Sea Control Systems by facilitating fail safe functionality. Cartridge insert valves instead of large and expensive solenoid operated shear seal subsea control valves will make it possible to reduce the size of the control valve manifolds to 1/3 of today’s size.
Our product can also be used as a pilot actuator to replace the solenoid on a today’s shear seal valves, to achieve the technical benefits of the technology.
The product has several advantages compared with today’s Sub Sea Control Valve technology; |
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The pilot actuator consists of a small motor and gear that activates a pilot needle. The invention can replace solenoids on subsea control valves. |
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Cartridge valves do not fulfil requirements with respect to fail-safe function for Sub Sea applications today, but this can be facilitated with our actuator. The invention combined with our control valve manifold product produced with Hot Isostatic Pressing Technique (HIP) can give a large cost reduction for a Sub Sea Control Module.
Low energy solenoids and pulse operated valves with hydraulic latch is used today. Sufficient mechanical force will be available to ensure reliable function. The valve position can be maintained without hydraulic latch. Today’s subsea control systems uses pulse operated control valves and hydraulic latch, mainly to reduce electrical power consumption. Hydraulic latch has the dis-advantage that the valve can drop out of latched position if the supply pressure drops too much. This can impose undesired operational limitations.
Diagnostics of pilot operation via motor data feed-back of spindle position. Feed-back of valve position may be a supplement to pressure transmitters, or a substitute to save space and cost.
Flexibility with programming of the valve function will be an advantage for standardisation of parts. The behaviour of the valve can be changed to suit different modes of operation.
The operation time can be fully controlled. The pilot will only use a few milliamps when activated.
A battery will ensure that the valve goes to the pre-defined failure mode position if the signal is lost. The battery is charged during normal operations.
Valve open and closure characteristics may be dampened through control of the pilot operation. |
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The pilot actuator is currently undergoing prototype development for a cartridge valve application. Qualification testing will take place in June 2009.
For technical details please contact Magne Rød, tel. +47 95784570 |