Portable Valve Actuation

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Gas Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 May 2015

01 January 2016

8 months

£97,000

Technical Consultancy

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Gas Transmission

This proposal is to review the practicality, operational benefit and whole life cost benefit associated with replacing the actuation on locally actuated valves and valves with aged gearboxes with high performance gearboxes and a portable form of actuation which could be attached by operatives as required. The project will also investigate the benefits of real time condition monitoring linked to specific valves and actual utilisation. To understand the potential benefits, impacts and whole life cost savings that can be achieved across the transmission network by the implementation of portable actuation solution and a phased replacement strategy.

The large valve population on the transmission network is aging, causing increasing maintenance costs of actuator systems to ensure continued operability. National Grid are therefore investigating the possibility of replacement of permanent valve actuators on non-critical locally operated valves with a portable actuation system. The project will investigate the whole life cost and operational benefit of implementing a portable solution in conjunction with replacement of existing gearboxes with higher efficiency gearboxes. The project deliverables include the development of :Technology Assessment Report The technology assessment report will be generated from data acquisition and discussions from internal and external workshops including with equipment suppliers to understand the potential gains that can be achieved with current technologies and high efficiency gear systems. HAZOP and Human Factors Study The studies will review and assess impact on operational procedures and human factors when implementing a new technology, taking in account of existing routine procedures and the impacts on safety, man hour consumption, speed of response and operational risk. Whole Life Costing Analysis A robust whole life cost analysis will be undertaken on both the current gearbox and actuation arrangements including ongoing O&M burden to provide a benchmark for comparison with the proposed portable solutions. The output will be a report produced in conjunction with PMC Ambergate, equipment suppliers and National Grid. Recommendations Report A recommendations report shall be produced, detailing the findings and lessons learnt from the project, making recommendations with regard to the most suitable form of actuation, commercial benefits and potential risks. The report shall reference technical data, scoping proposed further works and recommendations for future physical trials and development. Training Video and Virtual Reality Following assessment and review of the potential solutions, a virtual reality model will be generated together with a short video to be used as a training demonstration, showing the application and operation of the portable technologies to a typical locally operated valve. The VR model will allow the assessment of procedural and operational requirements to be tested in a safe environment.Note : Project Documents may be available via the ENA Smarter Networks Portal using the Website link above

26/10/18