Midland-ACS has launched a high-integrity pressure regulator for the pneumatic control systems that are widely used for valve actuation in the oil, gas and other processing industries. Called OPD Stemsaver, the device guards against any failure of the filter-regulator that controls compressed air system pressure, by providing dual-redundant over-pressure protection. It ensures that any downstream actuators for controlling process valves cannot be accidentally exposed to dangerous over-pressures that could be high enough to shear a valve stem or cause other damage. The device is an industry first, and provides plant and automation engineers with a high integrity safeguard against a failure mechanism that could lead to a costly process shutdown or injury. Midland-ACS developed OPD Stemsaver following a request from an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm working for a North Sea oil producer. A failed filter-regulator had led to the cover of a pneumatic actuator being blown off, leading to costly downtime of operations. The company’s OPD Stemsaver design avoids this possibility by providing a dual-redundant pressure regulation facility with one diaphragm regulator, coupled to a spring-tensioned poppet valve. The use of these two different regulation mechanisms provides additional reliability.
