Petrobras gives torpedo pile rights to Louisiana firm
Petroleo Brasileiro SA, Rio de Janeiro, has granted torpedo pile technology rights to InterMoor Inc., Amelia, La., which becomes an exclusive licensee of Petrobras’s torpedo pile technology in the US.
Torpedo piles typically range in sizes of 24-98 tonnes. The largest one can provide anchor-holding capacity of as much as 1,000 tonnes. In the past 8 years, Petrobras has successfully installed more than 1,000 torpedo piles—essentially gravity-embedded cylindrically shaped projectiles—to anchor deepwater flowlines and facilities off Brazil.
InterMoor said it looks forward to extending the technology to the Gulf of Mexico and other US waters.
Source: InterMoor Inc., Box 1599, Amelia, LA 70340-1599.
New quarter turn valve actuator
The new Limitorque QX valve actuator has been added to a family of electronic actuators. The QX is a quarter-turn, smart electronic valve actuator designed to enhance safety and reduce downtime through improved diagnostics, built-in self-test features, and LimiGard fault protection capabilities. The QX complements the nonintrusive multiturn Limitorque MX actuator by including a patent-pending absolute encoder, which tracks position without the use of batteries.
The new actuator uses brushless DC motors, which eliminate sparks, reduces mechanical and electrical noise, and dissipates heat better than DC motors with brushes, the firm says. The company adds that its brushless-actuator design lasts longer than conventional motors and allows for more accurate positioning.
Units are available for optional multiturn functionality. Suited for extreme and harsh environments, the actuators are powder-coated in a polyester resin. The actuators are double-sealed, containing any leakage within a separate terminal compartment, and include solid-state components.
The QX features an easy-to-read LCD screen control panel, which can be rotated 180°. Available in 10 languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, Japanese (Katakana), Mandarin, Russian, and Malay, the panel supports diagnostic graphs for clear data analysis and collection.
The company introduced absolute encoder technology for smart actuators in the Limitorque MX. An absolute encoder helps simplify valve automation through configuration and setup, normal operations, diagnostics, and troubleshooting.
The QX encoder employs system-on-chip technology, which uses a pair of contactless magnets that excite Hall-effect devices and provide redundant, 12-bit resolution over 360°.
Source: Flowserve Corp., 5215 N. O’Connor Blvd., Suite 2300, Irving, TX 75039.