Both onshore and offshore oil and gas producers have unmanned facilities that require remote monitoring and control. The positions of many of the valves are critical to know for safe and reliable remote operations. Since many of the valves operate in hazardous areas, the sensors to monitor their positions must be rated for the hazardous area classification. In the U.S., the highest National Electric Code classification for hazardous areas for hydrocarbon producers is Class I, Division 1. This classification indicates that flammable gases or vapors are either present or may be present in quantities sufficient to produce explosive or ignitable mixtures.
One oil and gas producer required position indication on large diaphragm wellhead shutdown valves. These valves are located in a Class I, Division 1 hazardous area. They required ultra-reliable position indicator sensors that were suitable for this classification.
The oil and gas producer selected Emerson’s TopWorx GO Switch Series 73 for its wellhead position verification application. These widely used and trusted lever-less limit switches have no external moving parts, no springs or cams, and no reed element. There is nothing to wear or fail.
The Model 73 GO Switch is rated for applications from general-purpose use to underwater and high-temperature use. In addition to Class I, Div. 1, it’s rated for:
- Class I, Div 2
- Class II, Div 1
- Class II, Div 2
- Class III
- Zone 0, Intrinsically safe
- Zone 1, Flameproof
TopWorxGO Switches have proven reliability across many sectors, including power generation, chemical, refineries, steel & aluminum, water & wastewater, oil & gas, petrochemical, food & beverage, pulp & paper, heavy equipment, mining, military vehicles, manufacturing, amusement parks, and material handling industries. These switches are designed for durability in mission-critical applications, operating in extremely hot, cold, wet, dirty, abusive, corrosive, and explosive environments.
Visit the TopWorx GO Switch section on Emerson.com to learn more about these maintenance-free, highly reliable proximity sensors for demanding applications.
