Powering Remote Valve Stations: Best Practices
What You Need to Know About Solar and UPS Power for Valve Actuation
By Andre Scholtz, Technical Director at Solarcraft, Inc.
Valve actuators, especially for Rupture Mitigation Valves (RMVs) Automatic Shut-off Valves (ASVs), and Remote-Control Valves (RCVs), are required along the vast stretches of pipeline infrastructure in America. Pipelines pass through remote areas where utility line power can be less than dependable, costly to install on-site, or unavailable. That’s where Solar Power Systems can provide both the power and reliability to remotely operate a valve in the event of an emergency.
Energy Reserves & Back-Up
In reviewing energy requirements first, a typical remote valve actuator site will have a communication component, whether licensed radio, cellular, or satellite. This same site will likely have a PLC or SCADA system. In the event of a power failure, several days of battery backup power is recommended, especially if the power failure is weather-related. This gives technicians enough time to get to the site once the weather clears.