IMI is set to deliver 15 QuickTrak™ Digital Valve Control System and Positioners for one of the world’s largest oil pipelines, which spans approximately 800 miles (1,287 km) across Alaska, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the efficiency and safety of this piece of critical infrastructure.
The QuickTrak™ system features pneumatic digital valve control technology, combining a microprocessor-based control system with an integrated valve positioner. It will provide the Alaskan pipelines with the control and performance of a hydraulic system but without the storage and environmental requirements. The QuickTrak™ system is specifically designed to answer the challenges of today and can be relied upon in extreme temperatures, operating from –40°C to 70°C.
It features three sequential layers of safety through integrated software, firmware, and mechanical systems. It also benefits from a probe consisting of Magneto strictive linear position transducers located within the actuator stem to provide fast and highly accurate control feedback. Additionally, it features a custom designed actuator with larger ports to accommodate the feedback probe.
QuickTrak™ systems are engineered, designed, and built to robust, fail-safe designs – and as such are ATEX, IECEx, CSA, and UL certified. These qualities and certifications make them well-suited to demanding operating conditions. They also incorporate digital control, using a closed-loop system based on the value and spool position to control the stepper motor, adjusting the actuator’s chamber pressure to achieve the desired valve position.