Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves - Assured Aut... https://assuredautomation.com/news-and-training/emergency-shutdown...

3 Types of Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves

Posted on March 9, 2015 by Jack Siedler

The two most common methods used to trigger a thermal shutoff, eliciting a failure position in pneumatically operated
Emergency Shut Down and Emergency Isolation Valves are: (1) Fusible Plugs, and (2) Plastic Tubing. Both of these
techniques have been used in emergency shutdown systems for years in refining, chemical, petrochemical, pulp and paper,
flavors and fragrances, semi-conductor and pharmaceutical processes. A third technology based on memory shape alloys
used successfully in space and aviation is increasingly replacing fusible plugs and plastic tubing based thermal shutdown
systems.

1. Fusible Plugs

With fusible plugs, excessive heat causes the brass fusible pipe plug to open, allowing air to exhaust from the pneumatic
actuator. The spring force closes the valve and stops the media flow. Although used for years, fusible plugs present two
drawbacks:

When the fusible plug is triggered, the air supply is not stopped. Air continues to flow through the actuator cylinder and
out the open pipe plug. This air supply increases oxygen available to fire, potentially adding to the intensity of a fire.
When the valve assembly requires periodic testing, the Fusible Plug must be replaced with a new Plug after each test.

2. Plastic Tubing

Excessive heat from a fire causes the plastic tubing to soften, melt, and rupture. Once ruptured, air can no longer reach the
actuator. When the air exhausts from the pneumatic actuator, the spring force closes the valve and stops the media flow.
Although widely used, it presents three negatives:

The flow of the air supply is not stopped and continues to flow through the ruptured plastic tubing. This air supply
(increased oxygen availability) can aid in the intensity and propagation of a conflagration.
If the valve assembly is required to be tested periodically, some arrangement would have to be established to simulate
the rupture or actually heat and replace the plastic tubing.
Plastic tubing is unreliable. The effects of ultraviolet rays, age, heat, and ambient conditions can cause the tubing to fail
unexpectedly, causing expensive plant shutdowns.

3. Memory Shape Alloys – FireChek®

To avoid these issues, instrument engineers now provide greater safety and system reliability with a FireChek, which uses
shape memory alloy to trigger the emergency shutdown. The memory shape alloy element senses the ambient temperature
and, through a phase induction change, rapidly produces the force and motion to operate. The element is 100% reliable
because the shape memory effect is intrinsic to the alloy. Shape memory alloys have performed successfully for years in
military, aerospace, industrial and consumer product applications. The FireChek is superior to the aforementioned
approaches for the following four reasons:

The flow of the air supply is shut off and the actuator is vented allowing the actuator to move to, or remain in, its fail-
safe position. Because the air supply is cut off, oxygen is prevented from continuously feeding a fire.
With FireChek’s memory shape alloy the automated valve assembly can be easily and economically tested. Heat testing
does not destroy the shutoff trigger. The shape memory alloy simply changes shape upon exposure to a specific heat

1z4 18.01.2021, 17:37

Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves - Assured Aut... https://assuredautomation.com/news-and-training/emergency-shutdown...

level and upon cooling returns back to its initial shape. FireCheks can be heated with a conventional commercial heat
gun to trigger it to shut off and then, after it has cooled, it can be reset by hand. No tools are required to reset the
thermal trigger element.
The FireChek has a compact and robust stainless steel body capable of reliable service in the most austere
environments.
The FireChek is FM APPROVED* which may help save on insurance for the facility. FireChek ESD assemblies minimize
loss risk in pneumatically controlled process applications for liquids and gases.

U.S. refineries are discovering FireCheks on ESD (Emergency Shut Down) valves. In the following photo, the refinery is
using the FireChek on their ESD valves on fuel gas lines to their burners.

When configured with a fire safe ball valve, the

FireChek thermal shutoffs function as EIV
[Emergency Isolation Valves], as they fall in
the class of API RP 553 Type D valves1. The
fire safe valves are full port, metal seated,
flanged ball valves operated by heavy-duty
scotch yoke spring return pneumatic actuators.
Refineries who have installed FireChek
equipped ESD and EIV assemblies sought a
solution to issues they had previously
encountered with unreliable plastic tubing,
which caused too frequent unnecessary plant
shutdowns.

The accompanying photo of the FireChek

installation demonstrates the simplicity of the
Photo courtesy of Herron Valve & Instrument, a Proconex company
system design.

Locations for ESD’s and EIV valves in Refinery

Production Facilities (Hazard Zones) include:

One ESD on each burner Fuel Gas or oil feed line

On each feed line which contains a flammable fluid
Hydrocarbon feed lines to the unit
Lines containing toxic material if necessitated by the specific circumstances
One ESD on each pump suction line based on size and characteristics of the inventory, as close to the upstream vessel
as practical
Install an ESD on liquid outlet line for vessels containing light ends or toxic materials
Install ESD on liquid outlet line for vessels containing liquids heavier than light ends with their operating temperature
above their flash point
Vapor lines or vessels in vapor only service to isolate them from normal vapor path where an upset condition could lead
to vessel failure Install ESD on compressor suction and discharge when horsepower is greater than 200
Install on compressor interstage equipment when liquid inventory is more than 1000 gallons

For applications with high Cv requirements, Assured Automation is introducing a memory shape alloy based shutoff to meet
the requirements of large actuators used in refineries. In addition, a field retrofit kit will be available for converting existing
pneumatic actuators in the field.

While the depicted ESD/EIV valves above are in use in a refinery within a hazard zone, valves equipped with FireCheks are

2z4 18.01.2021, 17:37

Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves - Assured Aut... https://assuredautomation.com/news-and-training/emergency-shutdown...

used effectively in other industries, both within or outside of hazard zones. FireChek thermal shutoffs are frequently used on
ESD valves complying with API RP 533 Types A, B & C or similar applications and standards in other industries. They can
be used on practically any pneumatically operated valve, valves with spring and diaphragm actuators, double piston rack and
pinion actuators and scotch yoke actuators either double acting or spring return, either on/off or throttling. The process
valves can be metal seated, fire tested or standard soft seated valves. They add safety to a wide and diverse number of
process applications. FireCheks improve the reliability of triggering pneumatically operated ESD’s and EIV’s.

EMERGENCY ISOLATION VALVE (EIV) SAFEGUARDING SURVEY, Edward M. Marshall, Kenexis, Columbus, OH and
1

Peter G. Herena, Kenexis, Columbus, OH

*FM Approval through Memry Corp.

See article as it appeared in Valve World’s 2015 issue:

“The Pros and Cons of 3 Types of Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves”

Send Me Product Information

Download your FREE product overview of automated and
manual valves, flow meters, and valve accessories

First Name *

Last Name *

Company *

Industry *

Email *

Send Product Updates

Download Product
Overview Now!

By submitting this form, you agree that Assured

Automation may use your information pursuant to its
privacy policy, including sending you emails about
products in which you may be interested.

Share this ...

email

Linkedin

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

3z4 18.01.2021, 17:37

Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves - Assured Aut... https://assuredautomation.com/news-and-training/emergency-shutdown...

About Jack Siedler

Jack Siedler has spent 45 years in the valve industry, including his current 14-year stint with Assured Automation. During his career, Mr. Siedler
has worked with bar stock globe control valves (with customized trim), rising-stem three-piece, three-way globe valves , spring and diaphragm
actuated diaphragm control valves, quarter turn manual, actuated and control valves, soft seated and metal seated, metal bodied, plastic and
plastic lined valves. His experience includes sizing valves for chemical and pharmaceutical applications and providing technical input for valve
applications in the nuclear and fossil power industries. Mr. Siedler has also worked with NAVSEA and other entities, on valve applications for
the US military. Mr. Siedler can be reached at [email protected]
View all posts by Jack Siedler →

This entry was posted in Biofuel Industry, Emergency and Fire Safety Valves and Devices, Flavor/Fragrance, Food/Beverage, Latest News, Pharmaceutical, Plastics
tagged Automatic Gas Shutoffs, Fire Safety, Thermal Activated Gas Shutoffs. Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to 3 Types of Emergency Shutdown and Emergency Isolation Valves

Main Menu: Valves By Type: Valves By Material: Valve Actuators: Valve & Actuator Accesories:
Home Compact On/Off Valves Brass Valves All Valve Actuators All Accessories
Products Ball Valves Lead Free Brass Valves Pneumatic Valve Actuators Limit Switches (Position Indicators)
Configurators 3-way Valves Stainless Steel Valves Electric Valve Actuators Positioners
Documents Butterfly Valves Carbon Steel Valves Air Filter-Dryers
Service & Support Plug Valves Ductile Iron Valves Coalescing Filter-Dryers
News & Training Globe Valves PFA Lined Valves NAMUR Solenoid Valves
Videos Manual Valves PVC & Plastic Valves Control Boxes
Resellers Thermal Shut-off Valves Silicone Free Valves
Contact Us:
Custom Actuated Valves Fire-Safe Valves
Contact Information
About Us
Request Literature
Site Map
Privacy Policy

© Assured Automation. We reserve the right to make technical changes at any time.
Please contact us to verify any information that is critical to your application.

4z4 18.01.2021, 17:37