Tyco Flow Control will supply valve and control packages to the British Sugar bioethanol production plant at Wissington, using Foundation Fieldbus and AS-Interface communications in hazardous areas. Control valves on the project include variable port control valves, high performance butterfly valves and resilient seated butterfly valves with high temperature resistant XP seats rated at 150C continuous operation. All control valves are controlled with Tyco SmartCal electro-pneumatic positioners with enclosure to ATEX II 2G EEx ib T4-IP66. These intelligent positioners employ the open Foundation fieldbus communication protocol, and feature remote diagnostics. For the open-close valves the Tyco XA position monitors have been selected. These ATEX II 2GD EEx d IIB rated units are all linked to the Honeywell control system via an AS-interface network connection. The Tyco variable port control valve with its floating ball design is designed for precision flow control of high pressure, high temperature and aggressive features typically encountered in the field of bioethanol production. With features including a custom-designed orifice in the ball to tailor the valve flow characteristic to actual conditions, it also provides high turn down capabilities. In the all-important area of safety the valve is provided with a fugitive emission port, anti-static devices and blow out stems and a patented stem seal for high emissions control under demanding conditions. The British Sugar bioethanol plant will produce 70 million litres of bioethanol annually from locally grown sugar beet.
