Powerful collaboration leads to robust safety system for over-pressure protection

Having safety in the DNA of both organizations, Yokogawa and Mokveld have a perfect foundation for an outstanding business case. For over 30 years, as partners we jointly serve the market with safety solutions that combine the best of both worlds. 

 

Safe, Sustainable and Reliable
As a leading manufacturer, Mokveld is a well-known name in the world of valves. The custom-made valves are applied in various markets in the production, transport and processing of both gas and liquids. Ever since the first natural gas field was commissioned in the Netherlands, the Gouda-based company acts as a trusted partner for valves. The markets in which the company is active in, mostly oil and gas, water, and hydrogen, require products of the highest quality and reliability. Hence, it makes sense that Mokveld and Yokogawa are a match. Rens Wolters (Product Specialist HIPPS at Mokveld Valves) and Niels Huttenhuis (Business Development Manager at Yokogawa) share their views on this collaboration.

Rens explains: “Our valves are pure, robust high-tech valves that combine high accuracy with sustainability and reliability, even under extreme conditions. This is necessary because our valves are an important link in critical (high-pressure) processes. These processes can be found in the global oil and gas industry, but increasingly often our valves are also used for hydrogen applications and in the water industry”.

The application in these environments also sets special requirements to the safety system. In today’s industry where sustainability and environment are highly important and therefore flaring should be limited to a minimum the safety systems shall be designed to close the source of over-pressure. This means that not only the pressure sensing should be reliable, it shall be decided in a fraction of a second whether the pressure remains within the limits. If this is not the case, the process or process section shall be shut down within a fraction of a second. “A subject area where different disciplines come together." explains Niels Huttenhuis “It makes sense that Mokveld and Yokogawa are a good match: Yokogawa for the EJX pressure transmitters and the logic solver, in the form of the ProSafe-SLS safety system, and Mokveld for the associated valves".

Components of Outstanding Quality
The applied pressure transmitter is the SIL3 certified EJX from Yokogawa. It has a large range and therefore applicable for many applications. The heart of the transmitters is formed by high quality sensor technology. During the development of the EJX, the use in safety applications in accordance with IEC 61508 and 61511 has been considered. The short response time ensures that the EJX transmitter can also be used for anti-surge (compressor) applications.

 
The logic solver in the form of ProSafe-SLS is a safety system specially developed for applications where the highest SIL levels (up to SIL4) are required. The beating heart of the system consists of hard wired solid state components where the functional logic is processed. This unique, robust technology makes ProSafe-SLS one of the few intrinsically fault-safe logic solvers in the world and therefore a highly regarded solution for Safety Instrumented Systems.
From Mokveld's wide range of axial valves, the on-off valve is used in the safety solution. It is ideally suited for harsh environments and for fast-acting safety applications. The short response times and high reliability of the valve matches perfectly with the previously mentioned advantages and applications. 

Growing Market
Due to the scarcity of oil and gas resources, an increasing effort is required for the extraction. At the same time, environmental awareness is growing. As a result, safety regulations are increasing worldwide with extra emphasis on sustainability. 

The cooperation between the two companies responds well to this. Rens Wolters: “Mokveld's and Yokogawa's philosophies of quality and reliability are a perfect match. The quality and reliability is recognized, for example, in the fact that parts are still available for order even after 30 years. In addition, both companies have a long term view. I can see that, for example, in the way we always try to find the best solution together, a solution for the long term. KISS, “Keep it safe and simple” is key. Reliability, quality and safety do not have to be complex”.

Attractive Approach
It is an approach that appeals to customers all over the world - from Mexico to Kuala Lumpur and from Schoonebeek to Kazakhstan.  “Customers are also changing”, says Rens Wolters. “The already multidisciplinary technology is becoming more complex, knowledge of safety applications is shifting from customer to supplier. As safety touches many facets and accommodates different types of technology, intensive collaboration between different specialists is required. It is important to work together on all aspects. We are both successful with this”. 

Niels Huttenhuis adds: “By communicating openly and transparently, informing each other about all the ins and outs, we offer a truly integrated solution. Together we are able to make safety a business. A business that requires knowledge. Knowledge that we offer together, that our customers can rely on. In order to operate in the best way possible, we trained each other’s staff, offer service together and work together from start to finish in close cooperation with the end-users”. 

More Information
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