New Digital Operations Solutions from Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes announced multiple new digital solutions and investments to advance more intelligent and energy-efficient operations. The solutions focus on improving efficiency and performance while reducing emissions, helping to drive the long-term sustainability of customer operations.

“Digital is redefining the limits of how the energy and industrial sectors can increase efficiency, operate predictably and ensure lower emissions in a sustainable manner,” said Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes. “We have long recognized digital is a critical capability in taking energy forward and leading in the energy transition, and we are continuing to invest and innovate for our customers.”

Leucipa is a public and private cloud-based automated field production software solution designed to help oil and gas operators proactively manage production and reduce carbon emissions. It focuses first on the specific outcome an operator wants to achieve, harnessing and leveraging data to drive intelligent operations.

Cordant is an integrated suite of solutions supporting industrial asset performance management and process optimization. Cordant will combine existing digital offerings for hardware, software and services capabilities into one integrated and simplified user interface. bakerhughes.com

Siemens and Microsoft Drive Industrial Productivity AI

Siemens and Microsoft are harnessing the collaborative power of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help industrial companies drive innovation and efficiency across the design, engineering, manufacturing and operational lifecycle of products. To enhance cross-functional collaboration, the companies are integrating Siemens’ Teamcenter software for product lifecycle management (PLM) with Microsoft’s collaboration platform Teams and the language models in Azure OpenAI Service as well as other Azure AI capabilities

With the new Teamcenter app for Microsoft Teams, anticipated later in 2023, the companies are enabling design engineers, frontline workers and teams across business functions to close feedback loops faster and solve challenges together. For example, service engineers or production operatives can use mobile devices to document and report product design or quality concerns using natural speech. Through Azure OpenAI Service, the app can parse that informal speech data, automatically creating a summarized report and routing it within Teamcenter to the appropriate design, engineering or manufacturing expert.

Siemens and Microsoft are also collaborating to help software developers and automation engineers accelerate the code generation for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The collaboration will allow engineering teams to reduce time and the probability of errors by generating PLC code through natural language inputs. These capabilities can also enable maintenance teams to identify errors and generate step-by-step solutions more quickly.

Industrial AI like computer vision enables quality management teams to scale quality control, identify product variances easier and make real-time adjustments even faster. siemens.com

Flowserve Introduces Reduced Port Flanged Ball Valves

The quarter-turn, floating ball valves have been re-engineered for global availability by standardizing design, materials, construction and product certifications. Target applications for the valves include controlling the flow of liquids or gases in the following industries: chemical processing, petrochemicals, energy, defense, food and beverage, industrial gases, pharmaceuticals and water.

The bubble-tight shutoff design and robust, live-loading packing in these valves minimize fugitive emissions, enhance safety, and maximize regulatory and standards compliance. Featuring a redesigned end plug, the valves ensure positive retention and greatly reduce blowout risk.

In addition to improving safety for workers, process fluids and equipment, customers will benefit from lower total cost of ownership thanks to the interchangeability of widely available parts.

To learn more about the Worcester 51/52 flanged ball valves, visit the company’s website. flowserve.com

Chesterton Single Cartridge Seal Offers Increased Reliability

Chesterton, a global leader in equipment sealing and reliability, has released its newest mechanical seal product – the 1510 general duty single cartridge seal.

Designed with a compact cartridge profile and utilizing the Chesterton T.A.B.S (tapered adjustable bolting system) field proven on the 155 and 442 split seals, the 1510 is designed to fit and install easily on process equipment throughout industry. The unique resettable centering strap allows for impeller adjustments even after the seal has been fitted. Incorporating Chesterton’s five features of good mechanical seal design, the 1510 sets a new standard for general duty cartridge seals. chesterton.com

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Emerson Launches New ASCO Aluminum Filter Regulators

Emerson has launched its new ASCO Series 641, 642 and 643 Aluminum Filter Regulators, which maximize process efficiency and reduce unplanned downtime in a broad range of process applications. This line of durable, aluminum filter regulators can handle the highest flow rates of any regulators in their class and provides precise pressure regulation to downstream instruments.

An alternative to stainless steel filter regulators, ASCO Series 641, 642 and 643 Aluminum Filter Regulators complete Emerson’s full suite of valve piloting technologies. This allows process manufacturers to source their total valve piloting solutions, including solenoid valves, switch boxes, filter regulators and accessories, from one global technology partner.

With flow rate capabilities of up to 370.8 standard cubic feet per minute (10,500 liters per minute), the aluminum filter regulators improve process efficiency and ensure that stringent process valve opening/closing requirements like those for emergency shutdown valves are met. Higher flow rates provide more air to the valve actuator, which increases the opening and closing speed of process valves. Depending on the application, slow valve closures can increase safety risks.

This three-tiered regulator line provides a 0.25-inch to 1-inch coverage and is highly customizable. Process manufacturers can choose advanced features such as quick relief, which enhances safety and operational certainty by exhausting downstream pressure if supply air pressure is lost, as well as low-temperature and low-copper variants, manual and automatic draining, global certifications and many other options that serve specific applications, in the chemical, oil and gas, energy and utilities, food and beverage and water and wastewater industries. emerson.com

BI-TORQ Fire-Safe Ball Valves

A selection of API 607-certified fire-safe ball valves (FSV) in both automated and manual configurations are available from Bi-Torq. FSVs are offered as part of a complete thermal shut-off package to shut down tanks or piping in the event of a fire.

The automated product line includes pneumatic double-acting, spring-return and electric actua tors in both AC and DC voltages and in two-way port configurations. Customization is possible by adding modulating positioners, NAMUR solenoids, and other options tailored for a specific application from ¼-inch to 6-inches. Bodies are available in stainless or carbon steel, with NPT, socket weld or flanged end connections, with temperature ratings from -20°F to 400°F depending on the series. The manual series offers spring-return, dead-man handles, and limit switches can be mounted to the valve. Most come with ISO mounting pads for easy field retrofitting.

https://www.strahmangroup.com/

Corrosion Resistant Coatings for Valves

ZPEX, from Ecoat, is a process designed specifically to protect against corrosion and abrasion in extreme environments, making it a perfect candidate for application in the oil and gas industry. Instead of using costly stainless steel or special overlays for pipes, pumps, valves and more, ZPEX is a highly effective and cost-efficient metal coating process, often saving customers up to 70% of the cost of using pricier materials.

ZPEX can tackle challenges in about 80% of the oil and gas industry, including upstream, midstream, downstream, production and saltwater disposal. Parts treated with the ZPEX process are resistant to more than 120 chemicals — even carbonic acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen sulfide — and are heat resistant up to 600 degrees. ZPEX extends the life of equipment and eliminates the need to frequently replace damaged parts. ecoat.us

High-Pressure Chainwheels from Babbitt

Babbitt’s Hammer-Blows products make it easy to control high-pressure valves from the floor in out-of-reach locations. The “hammer” action makes opening or closing sticky valves easier for an operator of any size without damaging the chainwheel or valve.

The product is available in ductile iron, a more shock-resistant material than cast iron necessary for hammer-blow style wheels. Standard components include: a chainwheel; guide arm and cap; zinc-plated carbon steel attachment set to clamp to the valve hand wheel; the Hammer-Blow mechanism that attaches to the spokes of the chainwheel and provides the hammer action that facilities the opening and closing of sticky valves. babbitt.com