RTO and RCO Actuator and Valve Safety Factors

This is the second article in a three part series of NESTEC newsletters:

1. March: The Best RTO/RCO Actuator-Valve Available
2. April: RTO and RCO Actuator and Valve Safety Factors
3. May: Selecting the Correct Actuator and Valve for your RTO or RCO

There are many intrinsic safety benefits that come from using electromechanical solutions. Plus, electromechanical actuators eliminate the need for hydraulic fluid systems and/or pneumatic air systems.

However, due to the inherent characteristics of hydraulic oil and/ or pneumatic actuators, there are numerous challenges to leveraging them effectively:

• Physical trauma

  • High-temperature, high-pressure systems present potential risk even in routine operation. As these hydraulic or pneumatic components wear and fail, the risk of danger increases. Proximity to hydraulic lines can potentially result in burns, bruises, cuts, or abrasions.

• Exposure risk

  • The U.S Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that some types of hydraulic fluids can irritate skin or eyes and that ingesting certain types can cause pneumonia, intestinal bleeding, or death in humans. The fluids also require fire retardant capabilities when used with an RTO/RCO.

• Contamination

  • In addition to being potentially toxic to humans, hydraulic fluids can be harmful to the environment.
  • The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes hydraulic fluids on its list of oils that require special handling due to slip and fall hazards.

• Cleanup

  • Indoor spills may also be subject to local regulation or require additional investments in absorbent substances or other cleanup services.

• Combustibility

  • Petroleum-based hydraulic fluids are less flammable than petroleum middle distillate fuels such as jet fuel, kerosene, or diesel fuel. However, they can still be a fire hazard if sprayed, as when high-pressure leaks convert the fluid to an aerosol state.

• Ambient temperature

  • Both hydraulic and pneumatic systems have issues due to ambient temperature changes.
  • Pneumatic systems require a dryer system to minimize moisture and prevent potential freezing on system exhaust.
  • Hydraulic systems have viscosity issues that affect valve timing, reducing DRE (destruction removal efficiency).

See also: The Importance of Oxidizer Safety | Nestec, Inc. (nestecinc.com)

However, NESTEC’s quest to eliminate or minimize the air emission control system’s effect on the plant’s bottom line has led to the development of an electromechanical actuator that duplicates pneumatic actuator performance — while offering additional features and savings. 

NESTEC’s new electric valve actuator:

• Eliminates…
  • the need for dry pneumatic air and associated cost
  • the compressor and piping associated cost
  • the air dryer and associated cost
    
• Eliminates…
  • end limit switches and their mechanical adjustments and associated cost
• Eliminates…
  • thermal expansion problems and expenses associated with complicated machined rotary valve RTOs

NESTEC’s solutions have led to substantial cost reductions in MCC RTO/RCO capital equipment as well as significantly reduced long-term operating costs, thus providing the best and most economical solution for the application. (See March 2022 issue “BEST RTO-RCO Actuator-Valve Available”) The NESTEC approach offers a total air emission control system with alternate options for the capital equipment system and associated operating costs. We offer a matrix of potential solutions that can lead to the best and most economical solution for the specific plant air emission control and energy conservation needs.

If you have an application or existing RTO/RCO for air emission control and/or energy conservation and want a system that will:

• Provide alternate solutions to minimize your capital expenditure
• Reduce your energy bill
• Lower stack testing costs to a single stack
• Shrink your carbon footprint
• Include easily maintainable equipment
• Provide simple and long-term reliability components
• Include 24/7 service and engineering support
• Include access to NESTEC’s warehouse of replacement components

Contact NESTEC for a free process analysis and proposal
Office: 610.323.7670

Jim Nester, C.E.O.: jnester@nestecinc.com

Rick Reimlinger, Vice President: rick.reimlinger@nestecinc.com