International market leader in pneumatic motion and fluid control technology Norgren has developed three new ranges of piston valve products for the energy sector, which are proven to meet the exacting performance requirements of Safety Integrity Level (SIL) 2 of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s IEC 61508 standard.
Suitable for use with both liquid and gaseous media, the valves, developed by Germany-based Buschjost GmbH, part of Norgren, are available in nominal diameter of DN 15 to DN 100 and port sizes of 1/2" to 2". The products cover a temperature range of -10° to +110° and can operate between 0 and 40 bar. They offer a high degree of functional safety and require minimal maintenance.
The introduction of these new certified products is aimed at delivering Engineering Advantage within the many new power plants being developed worldwide to meet growing demand for energy. This is an area where Buschjost GmbH has established a global reputation for innovation and the development of high-performance, magnetically actuated process valves for a full range of applications. Buschjost is one of only three companies in Germany which can claim SIL certification of its valve products for use in power plants.
For products to achieve SIL2, they must offer a PFD (Probability of Failure on Demand) of 0.01 to 0.0001 and an RRF (Risk Reduction Factor) of between 100 and 1,000.
"In many applications within the energy sector, components cannot now be used unless they have SIL certification", explained Paul Clark, Norgren’s UK Business Development Manager – Energy. "SIL certification guarantees both reliability and very high availability, with SIL 2 covering low demand applications. However, the new products are also usable for the highest security level – SIL 4 – when mounted in a redundant arrangement."
As well as a range of accessories, a ten-year servicing and parts guarantee is offered. The Buschjost portfolio also extends to SIL-certified back-pressure piston valves, enabling Norgren to offer an extensive product range for the energy sector.