Looking to reduce fugitive emissions in your oil and gas production? Electric control products are your best option.
In this video, Jordan shows you how these 5 products provide control on an oil and gas separator.
1. Electric Level Switch
For high or low level shut down in your separator, you can use an electric level switch.
An electric level switch controls a small span of liquid of about 2”. This switch operates just like our pneumatic switch, except the output signal is electric rather than pneumatic.
This signal is a discrete output, which is used for on/off control. An analog signal, which we’ll discuss a little later, is used to provide modulating control.
The electric level switch covers a range of 0W to 25W of power, pairing nicely with the demands of today’s automation equipment.
Here’s how it works:
As the liquid level increases, the float is lifted, and the magnet located in the float lever moves downward and closer to the reed switch. The reed switch is in the enclosure of the body and is isolated from the process conditions. When the magnet gets close enough to the reed switch it will close it. When liquid level decreases, the magnet will move away from the reed switch causing it to open.
This level switch can be used to shut down incoming production if the liquid level is higher or lower than the float output signal position.
To prevent liquid carryover the level switch is used by many producers for a high level shutdown. If a dump valve or liquid level controller fails, the rising liquid will trip the high level switch that’s positioned near the top of the vessel, shutting the inlet flow to the vessel and/or signaling an alarm.
2. Electric Low Pressure Valve
An electric low pressure valve ("E-Lo") is a low-power, low-pressure controller, and because it’s made with a standard Kimray body and seat it can flow any media that you normally find in natural gas or oil production.
The E-Lo is designed to control flow in applications less than 45 psi. It features a modular control board, and we offer three different modules for the board:
- a discrete module, which uses dry contacts only, less than three volts
- an analog module, which is 4-20 milliamps for variable control
- a Modbus control module for Modbus RS-485
The E-LO can be used as a dump valve, a burner control valve, or for any type of flow control under 45 psi.
3. ELECTRIC ACTUATOR
An Electric Actuator replaces the pneumatic actuator on control valves. It provides accurate, zero-emission control and can tie into a Programmable Logic Controller or Remote Terminal Unit for remote control/monitoring.
The actuator features an on-board OLED screen, providing operators with push-button set up and calibration. And with its real-time two-way communication capabilities, the actuator allows producers to minimize travel time, increase ability to pump by exception, and greatly improve their process monitoring.
Paired with a Kimray valve body, the Electric Actuator can be used anywhere your control valves are, including in liquid dump, gas regulation, and artificial lift applications.
The Electric Actuator has 3 key advantages over pneumatic actuators:
- Low Maintenance Operation—Because it doesn't rely on process gas, which can potentially cause corrosion, this long-lasting valve actuator can operate maintenance free for an extended period.
Zero Emissions—Because these actuators use electric power, they require no gas supply and do not vent any gas to the atmosphere.
Remote Communication—These actuators can tie directly into your SCADA system to provide remote monitoring and communication.
4. Electric Pilot
Currently, if you want to electrically control and remotely monitor your production processes, you need to use an RTU or PLC. These devices allow you to connect electric actuators to their microprocessor-controlled system via SCADA or another communications control network.
However, for sites or applications where only one or two valves need monitoring, the Kimray Electric Pilot is an ideal, cost-effective solution.
The Electric Pilot is a stand-alone electric controller that can control pressure, flow, temperature, or level. It can also be used in gap control and timer applications. It features an interactive screen and allows you to control process conditions without the use of computing hardware.
Here’s how it works:
The internal pilot receives a raw 4-20mA signal from a sensor, which represents a process condition. This signal could be from a pressure transducer or resistance temperature detector (RTD). That signal is then conditioned and sent to an electrically controlled valve via a proportional 4-20mA output signal.
The pilot shares a common input power source with the electric actuator and does not need a dedicated power source.
To speak with an expert about incorporating electric products into your operation, contact your local Kimray store or authorized distributor.
