Emerson’s Fisher valves have improved performance at a commercial waste site in Dudley, West Midlands, UK. Here the waste is processed in an incineration plant. This facility has the capacity to handle up to 90,000 tonnes of waste a year, and is operated by MES Environmental, on behalf of Dudley Waste Services. A significant source of revenue for the plant is the sale of electricity, produced by a steam-driven turbine. Soon after the plant was commissioned in 1999, problems developed with a 6-inch turbine bypass valve, which performed badly. Failures of this valve caused total shutdown of the generation plant, on average six times a year. In January 2001, Emerson Performance Solutions installed a new Fisher valve in the turbine bypass line, fitted with a Fieldvue Digital Valve Controller, at a total cost of GBP 7500. This new valve and controller combination is giving superior control and reliability, as well as allowing on-line diagnostics for this critical loop. Only two days after the valve was fitted, the plant output was tripped by the National Grid, and the bypass valve worked perfectly, with no plant shutdown resulting. MES were impressed by the performance and have already ordered replacements for three further valves, with a Fieldvue DVC5000 Controller on the critical boiler feed-water valve.
