Emerson has released its Plantweb Insight Valve Health Application, a software tool that combines Fisher control valve expertise with advanced analytic algorithms. The new app makes it possible for users to visualize an entire connected fleet of valves, while prioritizing actions based on the health index of each valve. This helps plant personnel optimize valve repair activities, resulting in faster and better maintenance decisions, leading to reduced downtime.
Most process plants and facilities have hundreds of control valves installed and operating in various applications. These valves have multiple parts that must frequently move in concert to regulate flows of process media, with some of these parts coming into constant, direct contact with the media. These operating conditions create wear and tear, requiring maintenance personnel to track the condition of each valve. This is typically done by examining each valve individually, either locally or remotely, a time-consuming endeavor that requires a high level of expertise to ascertain valve health and follow-up action.
The Plantweb Insight Valve Health Application speeds and simplifies this control valve monitoring task by providing a user-friendly interface, with intuitive graphics. The app includes Emerson’s Valve Health Index, produced by a proprietary algorithm, which shows plant personnel the level of health for each valve. The Valve Health Index allows users to enter information regarding their plant's processes, including criticality of the valve and financial impact if the valve were to fail, making the index more informative.
The app allows users to prioritize repair and maintenance activities with five different indicators—Repair Urgency Status, Valve Health Index, Financial Impact, Criticality and NE107 Alert Status. The app includes explanations, recommendations and suggested time to take action.
