Performance of Rotork Fluid Systems - Essay Example

Rotork Fluid Systems Pneumatic and electric actuator valves production. Rotork Fluid Systems is a global company that is designed to serve customers for all needs that are associated with fluid powered actuators such as pneumatic, electro-hydraulic, gas over oil, hydraulic, subsea, and direct high-pressure gas. The products from Rotork Fluid Systems are supplied to petrochemicals, pipelines, oil and gas, water and power sectors. A Rotork Fluid Systems were because of PC Interchnik business being acquired in 2005 (Floyd & Harris, 2004, p. 115). Since then it has been dedicated to manufacturing, design, sale and distribution of high torque and reliable fluid power actuators on a worldwide scale. Rotork Fluid Systems have their manufacturing plants in the United States, Germany and Sweden which are supported through application of a strategic network of Centres of Excellence, control system packing, serving application engineering, and commissioning and support sales support for local industries installation. Rotork Fluid Systems practices quality and safety production of pneumatic and electrical actuator valves using a custom test systems that tests the correct operation and product functionality and assist with the development and research. Rotork Fluid Systems manufacture high quality Pneumatic actuators. Actuators that do not perform well have serious consequences to the production process. Pneumatic actuators are used to plug, ball and butterfly valves (Floyd & Harris, 2004, p. 117). In addition, they can be used in various quarter turn applications that include pressure regulators and dampers. They are made of aluminum alloys of high duty that provide corrosion resistance and optimum strength. They have different variety and sizes that range between twelve to four thousand nanometers. Pneumatic actuators are produced in two versions; the single and double acting. The two versions have been designed in a way that there are no movements on the outside (Wang & Cai, 2011, p. 1033). By this, they become safe, easier installation and low maintenance needs. In addition, the pinion construction and pinion rack means that they are lightweight and have a little volume to occupy. The double and single acting actuators are made use of in most safety systems. They have the ability to return automatically to fail-safe positions and have modular spring packages that ensure they are easily applied within a wide prospect of supply pressures and operating conditions. The actuators are fitted by use of drive inserts. This is done to enable them become directly mounted onto the right valves and eliminate the call for a coupling and bracket type of mounting kit. The continued use of directs mounts cuts the costs of valve assembly. The choice of an actuator is dependent on the valve torque requirement (Floyd & Harris, 2004, p. 167). The electrical actuators are plug-in modules that can be preinstalled at the distributor's level, factory or even installed in the field. This can be done all without special tools and modification of actuators. Electrical actuators produced by the Rotork Fluid Systems have low power consumption hence saves power and cables. They can be used for all application since they have the ability to protect against motor overheating. Electrical actuators have a complete torque as compared to the entire stroke that enables them to cover all applications regardless of having valves with complex torque patterns (Wang & Cai, 2011, p. 1037). The electrical actuators can be used for various modulating applications since 3.600 starts every hour. The electrical actuators are effective since they reduce costs for pipeline support and hence prevent stresses associated with pipe work hence eliminating side loads on the valve spindle. The varieties of options that can be easily installed include position transmitters, intelligent positioners, extra limit positioners, communication cards, local control unit, status information module and extra limit switches. Their sizes range from one hundred to eight hundred, and the choice depends on the valve’s torque requirement although, for optimum actuator sizing, various essential factors need to be taken into care of.All electrical actuators are self-enclosed and contain thermal switches within the motor windings in order to prevent overheating in the motor. Standardized connection flanges are applied to ensure easy installation within all quarter turn valves like plugs, ball and butterfly valves (Wang & Cai, 2011, p. 1039). Supply chain from raw materials to end user Rotork Fluid Systems manufactures a wide range of pneumatic and electro-hydraulic actuators for gas and oil market. Oil and gas entails a wide range of applications and Rotork Fluid Systems have benefited from strong demand for gas and liquid pipelines, offshore projects and gas storage. Their engineering capacity and diverse product portfolio enables people to participate within the markets. They manufacture and supply products globally that include fluid power valve actuators, electric valve actuators, explosion proof valve actuators, electric valve actuators, process control valve actuators, network control systems, gearboxes and valve accessories, nuclear certified valve actuators, smart valve monitoring systems, precision control and indication instruments and worldwide service and support network. The engineers at Rotork Fluid Systems rely on innovation and dependable solutions to ensure that their supply of products is high and constant and are able to control flow of gases, liquids and powders. The division of Rotork Company that deals with fluid systems has been the fastest growing over the years in regards to supplying pneumatic and hydraulic actuators (Bone & Chen, 2012 p. 1794). Rotork Fluid system manufacture, assemble and market heavy-duty fluid power-valve actuators that are either operated pneumatically of hydraulically. The products’ main markets are the gas and ail related fields and as opposed to electric actuators, the products’ bulks are destined for transmission, upstream application, LNG plants and terminals. The various areas benefit from the increased investment that is taken by the international gas and oil companies. The main assembly plant for these products is in Lucca, Italy and later the products are assembled in New York and Melle, Germany. Rotork Fluid Systems invest on sales and packaging of its products within the centre of excellence. Their facilities have also undergone intense expansions globally (Bone & Chen, 2012 p. 1797). Design of new products The accumulators manufactured by the Rotork Fluid Systems can be designed to withstand exposure to very high environmental temperatures. Rotork Fluid Systems can customize on the valves they manufacture and come up with a Power hand wheel. It is a versatile valve operator that is designed to function with both gearbox combinations and quarter turn and rising stem linear designs. It operates in two ways by two ways; manual hand wheel or hydraulically, through use of external power unit that is connected to provide quick connect fittings. This would give an excellent solution for remotely located valves and those that are seldom used where automated actuation is not practical. Faster valve operation is necessary and through use of a manual hand wheel, it can be accomplished. The Hydraulic Damper is yet a new product that Rotork fluid systems need to design in order to provide a reliable and simple solution to inherent problems that are often encountered in swing check-valve applications. The design features a hydraulic system that is self-contained and has ability to incorporate and a valve that can be easily adjustable for simple and precise throttling control regardless of the direction. Rotork Fluid Systems require a solution for nuclear power by supplying special actuators built for the nuclear power industry and designed to meet the stringent requirements. The actuators need to fast acting in a case of fast operating times. They can supply actuators that have the capability to perform emergency operations within milliseconds. In addition, there is need for closed loop systems and partial stroke system. The closed loop system will be tasked to prevent the intrusion that is experienced due to the outside smoke that comes into the actuators. The closed loop system should moreover have a system to ensure clean breathing. Partial stroke system will provide an option for operational test for the valve or actuator assembly process ensuring minimal effect on valve flow (Thomas, 2010, p. 1954). This can be possible since Rotork Fluid Systems have many executions that are available to meet diverse range of application requirements. Lay out and flow to the factory. Rotork Fluid Systems supply a range of high quality, custom built, locally manufactured and engineered pneumatic and hydraulic control panels. The company has been manufacturing and providing high quality goods and solutions for hydraulic, pneumatic, electro-hydraulic and gas hydraulic valve automation systems to global industries for almost a quarter century. The custom-built control panels are applied in ranges of harsh applications in different companies that operate in fields related to gas, oil, mining and other industries that require high quality design and functional interventions. Rotork specialty lies in stainless steel products, fitting and tubes. The valves actuator panels of control are fabricated, tested, and supplied for new installation on the already completed actuator systems (Zhu & Barth, 2005, p. 988). The solutions for a complete control panel can be ensured by ensuring that the sales team, engineering board and the production teams liaise with the consumers in order to come up with approved engineered solutions and interventions to their systems. Prior to manufacture, they should ensure that the customers are provided with schematic layout diagrams and general arrangement CAD drawings to approve. In addition, there should be clear provision of final as build general arrangement drawings. Rotork should also engage in individual testing and inspection by use of a third party. It is also necessary to comply with the SIL and hazardous area requirements in conjunction with IEC Ex. The site service team is associated with the Rotork Fluid system. It should ensure that they offer onsite inspection and carry out auditing of the requirements of the customer in order to determine the best solution after considering space restrictions, hazardous area equipment upgrade-requirements and the general improvements within the materials and workmanship of the installed equipment that are ageing (Situm & Esser, 2007, p. 26-34). Managing Operations is a strategic function of the business. Managing operations are a vital aspect for Rotork Fluid Systems since it influences the five main stakeholders of any company. They include the customers, suppliers, shareholders, employees and the society. Customers are the most oblivious people in a business while suppliers are affected by managing operations on how they are effective in supplying the products and how they prosper within themselves. Shareholders are an essential part and determinant of company’s success and are more likely to support the operations of the company mainly in marketing and distribution of products. The operation strategies influence the performance objectives of any business. Rotork should ensure that they invest in manufacturing products that are reliable, durable, good quality and of high performance (De Lima, 2011, p. 53). The key role of operation management is to add value by increasing input at every stage of production. In addition, the managing operations should provide an efficient transformation, which entails performing activities efficiently at the least possible cost. Rotork should ensure that they manage their operations since they produce a mixture of services and goods to diverse communities globally. The decisions taken by the branch of operation management are very vital to any business since it influences both the production cost and how well the products will be manufactured and distributed. Rotork Fluid Systems should exercise operation management to ensure that there is high productivity, helping employees to receive good amounts of wages, and lead to increase in the profits of the company. Moreover, operation management plays a significant role in the companies’ competitive success. Operation management in Rotork fluid system entails working with the engineers, the finance sections, the information and technology branch and the marketing department. Many engineers in Rotork are assigned to different tasks that are dependent to production of the final product. Hence, ample training should be carried out and the engineers place their analysis in regards to the individual process within the overall context of the operation system. The finance department should be clear with the budgets and ensure financial analysis is carried out in order to know the current and future potential of Rotork. Regardless of the automated operations, the management should ensure that the IT professionals could create competitive advantage through improving the processes of production with support of the engineers. Operations in marketing should be well strategized and analyzed to ensure that products are supplied and distributed to where the customers are (Thomas, 2010, p. 2056). References Bone,G.M. & Chen, X., 2012. Position control of hybrid pneumatic-electric actuators. American Control Conference (ACC), 2012, pp.1793–1799. De Lima, E. P. (2011). Managing operations for sustainability. Industrial Management, 53, 9. Floyd, T., & Harris, R. (2004). Rotork actuator. Bath (Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY), Bath University Press. Pp. 113-225. Šitum, Ž.̌, Žilić, T. & Essert, M., 2007. High speed solenoid valves in pneumatic servo applications. In 2007 Mediterranean Conference on Control and Automation, MED. Pp. 23-76. Thomas, M. U. (2010). Models for Managing Contingency Construction Operations. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)CO.1943-7862.0000133 Wang, L., Zhang, Y., & Cai, M. (2011). Mechanical properties evaluation for pneumatic actuator and electric actuator based on AHP-FCE. Journal of Computers, 6, 1032–1039. Zhu, Y. & Barth, E.J., 2005. Impedance control of a pneumatic actuator for contact tasks. In Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation_. pp. 987–992. Read More