Actuator Working Group

Here at BVAA we’ve been very active in revising of some of our most important standards, attending technical meetings and contributing to the drafting process. Our groundwork in 2016 paid dividends in maintaining BVAA member’s interests. As ever, we do this by meeting regularly in conjunction with the BSI PSE/18/5 group, which comprises essentially the same experts, forming member and UK consensus and ensuring they are promoted.

ISO 5210 & 5211

Valve Actuator Attachment Standards ISO/TC153/WG1 meetings in Berlin and Tokyo concluded the revision drafting process and they were submitted ISO/ TC153 who subsequently approved them as final drafts (FDIS) for formal voting. This is currently being undertaken, the UK voting to “approve” and so we expect ISO5210 – 2017 and ISO5211-2017 to be published soon.

There are changes and significant additions, the key ones being:

ISO 5210 - inclusion of additional flanges to extend the torque/thrust range: F05 (20Nm / 10kN), F48 (20,000Nm / 2,000kN and F60 (40,000Nm / 4,000kN). New couplings “C” and “D” for transmitting torque only have been added along with defined linear outputs.

ISO 5211 also has new flanges F80 (500,000) and F100 (1,000,000 Nm) and new Peter Hirst (Rotork) working on site in Dakota, USA ANNUAL REVIEW | SPRING 2017 couplings for involute spines, bi-square and an improved flat head design coupling. Informative annexes on the calculation basis for transmittable torques/ thrust and sizing have been added to both standards.

ISO New work item proposal from China and Korea for an electric actuator standard

After TC153/WG1 tasking them to provide a clearer NWI proposal for circulation and voting in the first quarter 2016, at the meeting in Tokyo in November 2016 the Chinese and Korean delegates agreed to widen their original scope to include modulating duty electric actuators and also to “adopt” EN15714-2 as a basis to begin drafting. TC153 have therefore passed a resolution that the revised new work item be put forward for ballot (ends February 2017). I expect this will be agreed and that active work will begin this year, the two countries sharing the lead.

CEN Standards

The reformed actuator sub-group within CEN – TC69/ WG1/SG10 (actuators) has several new work items to consider in 2017.

The study of possible conflicts between the EN 15714 (Actuators) series and the ISO 12490 pipeline valve actuator standard has been completed as it has been proposed that ISO12490 be adopted by CEN. SG10 sent a comparison table identifying conflicts to CEN/TC 12 in order to stop an adoption of ISO 12490 as an EN ISO until they can be accommodated. A proposal to deal with these conflicts by drafting a prEN15714–7 has been accepted and it is expected that work will commence this year.

A new work item proposal covering linear pneumatic and hydraulic actuators has been accepted as prEN 15714 part 5 and a draft will be submitted to TC69/WG1 after SG10 meeting planned for March 2017. UK comments have already been submitted via BVAA and BSI.

Valve Gearboxes standard

A CEN new work item proposal Industrial valves — Valve gearboxes (prEN) has been accepted, however a Korean proposal for a gearbox standard has also been submitted to ISO. The Convener of TC69/WG1/SG10 Mr. Brancaleoni has therefore proposed close liaison with ISO and will raise this at a planned joint ISO/CEN meeting planned for March 2017.

Sub Sea Actuators

The ISO/TC67/SC2/WG18 project on “Actuator mechanical integrity and sizing for subsea pipeline valves” (ISO 16441) remains halted largely due to international political reasons outside the BVAA’s control. API however continues to develop their standard ‘API 6D SSX’ for sub sea actuators. The meetings are helpfully held concurrently with the associated API 6DSS meetings for sub sea valves. UK delegates are occasionally able to attend these meetings, supported by BVAA travel funding, or alternatively submit comments for consideration. This year BVAA was also able to host a session at its UK HQ. Such is the importance of these standards, a new dedicated sub sea ‘Technical Expert Group’ has been formed at BVAA led by my colleague Chris Williamson (BEL Valves).

I would like to close with my sincere thanks to my fellow working group members who give so freely of their time. Also to BVAA, particularly Martin Greenhalgh and Rob Bartlett for their support. My thanks also to BSI’s Charlie Duncombe, for his skill in helping us prepare drafts and comments destined for the international standards groups. Charlie retired at the end of 2016 and on behalf of the BVAA, I wish him a long, happy and fulfilled retirement.

Published: 5th February 2017