Fluxo will supply the new pipeline that will connect the Henrique Lage Refinery - Revap - to Petroquímica União. They are 15 Shafer gas-hydraulic actuators, which will be installed together with Cameron 8" and 12" valves 600# . The 106 km pipeline will transport “refinery gas” (light hydrocarbons) from REVAP, in São José dos Campos, to PQU's ethylene production unit.
PQU's decision to use actuators with gas-on-oil technology for pipeline automation follows the global trend, as it is a solution with greater reliability and useful life, safe, compact and with a proven design philosophy abroad, with a large installed base in the gas transmission industry.
Among the advantages presented by the gas-hydraulic actuator, it is worth mentioning the use of oil as a hydraulic barrier, which prevents the line gas, with its aggressive components such as impurities, condensate, or even water, from coming into contact with the moving parts of the actuator. This feature increases operational reliability, and reduces maintenance requirements. The pressure vessel, where the line gas is contained, is constructed and certified in accordance with the ASME VIII international standard.
On the other hand, the direct gas actuator, an alternative still accepted in some pipeline projects in Brazil, the gas in the line comes in direct contact with the cylinder, piston and o-rings of the actuator, exposing these parts to aggressive components that cause accelerated wear, increasing the frequency of maintenance and the risk of crashing in an emergency situation.
The gas-hydraulic actuator is a product that has a ten-year warranty, but it is designed for a service life of 50 years. The equipment's resilience makes it ideal for automating pipelines, which typically operate in inhospitable and rudimentary areas.
Fluxo believes that with examples like this, as well as the Gasbel and Comgás pipelines, there will be a trend towards uniformity in the use of gas-hydraulic actuators in Brazilian gas pipelines, as occurs between nine out of ten pipelines in the United States and Canada .