Rotork IQT3 Range: Intelligent electric valve actuators now with shutdown battery option
Diana Aoun | November 02, 2020In the latest addition to its IQT3 range of actuators, Rotork has revealed a new shutdown battery option that will provide uninterrupted operation in the event of a power outage with fail-to-safe functionality of critical valves, available in an explosion-proof design.
Rotork’s IQ range of intelligent electric valve actuators are popular across many industries for their reliability, robust design, and, of course, their intelligence. Rotork IQ actuators feature double-sealed enclosures, infrared commissioning, datalogging and predictive maintenance capabilities. In more recent advancements, Rotork has added a Bluetooth communications interface and an absolute encoder that assigns a unique identifier to every possible shaft position. The IQ range offers users functionality and flexibility available for a wide range of valve sizes, types and applications. The IQT3 range (third generation part-turn actuators) feature a highly intuitive user interface, advanced data logging and diagnostics capability, superior position control and much more.
Source: Rotork
With the addition of a shutdown battery option to the IQT3 range, users can maintain control over their systems in the event of a power outage, loss of communications or emergency shutdown (ESD) scenario. The valve is pre-programmed to a fail-to-safe position that is specified by the user based on operational requirements and specific position that ensures the process fails to a safe operating state. The shutdown battery consists of a lithium-ion battery that provides critical backup power within the actuator enclosure.
By ensuring processes shut down in a safe operating state, many safety issues can be avoided as well as the costly consequences of process shutdowns with valves in unfavorable states. With the shutdown battery there is no need for additional back-up equipment such as compressors or solar-powered back-up systems used in remote operations that are often costly and unreliable.
The IQT3 Shutdown Battery also comes with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) mode that ensures continued control and operation of the actuator in the event of a power outage, until the battery charge has been depleted. Programmable logic allows users to specify a delay before the fail-to-safe function is activated. With the presence of local battery power at the actuator (UPS), if power or communication systems temporarily drop out due to unreliable power supplies, operation can continue, thus, preventing costly restarts.
The IQT3 Shutdown Battery is appropriate for applications on process shutdown (PSD) or emergency shutdown (ESD) valves as well as control valves, blow down valves and processes that must be shut down in phased or staged sequences.